BIOCONTROL OF SORGHUM DAMPING-OFF BY Gliocladium ISOLATES

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Plant Pathology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, EI-Shatby, Alexandria University, Egypt.

2 Plant Pathology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, El-Shatby, Alexandria University, Egypt.

Abstract

Biocontrol treatment were conducted under greenhouse conditions to test
tre efficacy of two isolates of Gliocladium roseum [G-17, G-18] and two isolates of G.
penicil/oides [G-1, G-19] on controlling sorghum grain rot and seedlings damping-off
[caused by Drechslera sp., Fusarium moniliforme and Phoma sp.]. Soil infestation
with such biocontrol fungal isolates were applied either one week before, at the time,
or one week after planting. The applications of Gliocladium isolates one week before
planting significantly (p~0.05) increased seedlings stand from 34.2% to 50.4% and
reduced mortality percentage from 65.8 to 49.6%. G. roseum isolates were more
effective at this time. When soil infestation was applied at the same time of planting,
G-17 and G-19 gave the highest seedlings stand, however, G-18 was the best in
increasing shoot and root fresh and dry weight. The application of the antagonists
one week after planting, significantly (p~0.05) increased seedlings stand from 50% to
58.8%, and decreased the percentage of mortality from 50% to 41.3%. Isolate G-
17 gave the maximum shoot length and 25% increase in shoot dry weight, however,
isolate G-1 gave the highest seedlings stand. The results revealed that the proper
time for soil treatment was one week before planting. 

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