ANTAGONISM OF SELECTED FUNGAL SPECIES AGAINST MACROPHOMINA PHASEOLINA (TASSI) GOID, CAUSING CHARCOAL ROT OF MUNGBEAN

Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid is a destructive soil-borne fungus that infect several crops and cause considerable yield losses. In this work, M. phaseolina was isolated from symptomatic munbean plants and was identified on the basis of morphological features. Morphological identification was further confirmed by the amplification of ITS regions which exhibited 99 to 100% identity with sequences of M. phaseolina present in previously published literature. In antagonistic assays, strains of Trichoderma harzianum, Penicillium spp. and A. flavus significantly inhibited the mycelial growth in M. phaseolina except A. niger. Fungal agents with promising antagonism in dual culture were further investigated for disease suppression and plant growth promotion effects on five selected mungbean varieties in net house. Of all the tested fungal agents, T Harzianum and Penicillium spp. significantly curbed the disease severity percentage, and showed positive effects on seed germination percentage and other plant growth parameters. An in-depth study of these fungal antagonists needs to be carried out which can lead to develop a better substitute to chemical formulations.