Advances in Life Sciences 5(7), Print : ISSN 2278-3849, 2933-2941, 2016

Exploitation of Compost Amended Biological Agents for the Management

of Vascular Wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici) in Tomato
*SHANMUGAPACKIAM S.1, PARTHASARATHY S.2, DANIEL JEBARAJ M.3 AND DAVID
JOHN CHRISTOPHER4.
1,2and3

Department of Plant Pathology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 641003

4
Department of Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Chidambaram
- 608002
*email: spmpatho@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
Bacterial and fungal biocontrol agents were isolated
from different agro ecosystems of Tamil Nadu, and
were investigated for their efficacy against the
vascular wilt pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.
lycopersici of tomato under in vitro, glasshouse and
field conditions. Pseudomonas fluorescens strains
applied to seed, soil and foliage or as a seedling dip
significantly reduced Fusarium wilt with a
concomitant increase in growth promotion in both
the glasshouse and field. Compatibility of biocontrol
strains were tested, all the strains of P. fluorescens
were compatible with all the strains of Trichoderma
and Bacillus. Among the various compost tested, coir
pith compost proved best in enhancing the plant growth
promotion of tomato seedlings. Further, the
combination of P. fluorescens strains Pf1 and T. viride
1 was more effective in reducing fusarium wilt disease
in tomato compared to individual strains under
glasshouse and field conditions. The present study
revealed the probable influence of antagonism and
plant growth promotion by the mixture of
Pseudomonas bioformulations in enhancing the
disease resistance in tomato against fusarium wilt
disease.
Key words

Bio-control; Compost; Fusarium

oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici; Tomato.

Vascular wilt incited by Fusarium oxysporum

f. sp. lycopersici is essentially soil borne (Horsfall,
1930) and phases a greater problem in tomato
disease management. The pathogen occurs all over
the world and results in mass mortality and occurs
as a pandemic disease. The conventional chemical
method of disease management is known to leave
harmful residues in the soil and crop. In this context,
biological control is coming up as an alternative
strategy for disease management, which is also
ecology-conscious and environment friendly.

Several organisms have been successfully used as

biocontrol agents, such as Trichoderma spp.
(Raguchander et al., 1997) and Pseudomonas spp.
(Vidhyasekaran and Muthamilan, 1995) and Bacillus
spp. (Capper and Campbell, 1986). Talc based
formulation of biocontrol agents have been
reported to be effective against various plant disease
under green house and field conditions reported
by Nandakumar et al., 2001). Pranab Dutta et al.
(2002) determined the efficacy of T. harzianum,
T. viride and T. koningii for management of wilt
of tomato. T. viride, T. harzianum and T. hamatum
inhibited the growth of Fusarium significantly
(Ramanathan, 1989). Levy et al. (1992) reported
that strain PF M2 of P. fluorescens suppressed
several phytopathogenic fungi viz., F. oxysporum,
Septoria tritici, Sclerotium rolfsii and Pythium
irregular under in vitro. Sharma et al. (2003)
reported that the efficacy of seven strains of P.
fluorescens was tested under field conditions for
their ability to protect chickpea against wilt
infection. Elkazzazy et al. (2002) reported that
certain isolates of Bacillus subtilis and P.
fluorescens were screened for their antagonistic
effect against and Macrophomina phaseolina under
in vitro, causing root rot and wilt disease in sugar
beet. Soil application of T. viride (Sivan et al.,
1984) and P. fluorescens (Weststeijn, 1990)
effectively controlled wilt in pea, tomato and pepper
incited by F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici and root
rot in tulip incited by Fusarium ultimum. Several
strains of Pseudomonas and Bacillus have been
shown to produce wide array of antibiotics which
includes phenazines, pyoluteorin, pyrrolnitrin,
tropolone, pycocyanin, 2-4 diacetyl phloroglucinol,
oomycin, iturin, surfactin and agrocin 84 (Asaka
and Shoda, 1996). Organic amendments such as
FYM, oil cakes were the best substrate for
multiplication of T. viride and P. fluorescens (Najam
et al., 2004). In this paper discusses about the

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Advances in Life Sciences 5(7), 2016

Table 1. In vitro antagonistic activity against F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici

Sl. No
1
2

Antagonists
P. fluorescens (Pf1)
P. fluorescens (Pf 2)

Place of collection
Coimbatore
Annamalainagar

Mycelial Growth after 8

days

Per cent reduction over

control

40.05b

55.50

cde

50.00

def

45.00

P. fluorescens (Pf 3)

Kerala

46.01

48.87

P. fluorescens (Pf 4)

Pampadumparai

46.10defg

48.77

37.88a

57.91

5
6
7

T. viride (Tv1)
T. viride (Tv 2)
T. viride (Tv 3)

Coimbatore
Annamalainagar

def

46.00

48.88

Annamalainagar

47.00fgh

47.77
20.66

T.viride (Tv 4)

Kerala

71.40i

T. harzianum (Th1)

Annamalainagar

44.15cd

50.94

Coimbatore

45.54cde

49.40

fgh

46.51

defg

48.78

10
11
12

T. harzianum (Th 2)
T. harzianum (Th 3)
T. harzianum (Th 4)

Kerala
Annamalainagar

48.14
46.09

13

B. subtillis (Bs1)

Coimbatore

42.13c

14

B. subtillis (Bs 2)

Annamalainagar

75.55ij

16.05

ijk

14.57

15

B. subtillis (Bs 3)

16

Control

Coimbatore

76.88

90.00

53.19

*Values are the means of three replications. Means in a column followed by the same superscripts are not significantly different
according to Duncans multiple range test (DMRT) at P = 0.05

application of antagonistics along with different

compost has been proved to be a promising disease
management technology especially against soil
borne pathogens.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Isolation and collections biocontrol strains
Rhizosphere soil samples were collected from
different agro-ecosystems of Tamil Nadu, India.
The fluorescent pseudomonad strains, Bacillus
strains and Trichoderma strains were isolated from
rhizosphere soil samples using the serial dilution
technique in Kings B (KB) medium, Nutrient agar
medium and Trichoderma selective medium
respectively.

Isolation of pathogen
The soil borne pathogen, F. oxysporum f. sp.
lycopersici was isolated by tissue segment method
on potato dextrose medium. Infected tomato stems
and roots were cut into small pieces of 1-1.5 cm,
surface sterilized with 1% sodium hypochlorite for
1 min and washed in sterile distilled water thrice
and then placed in Petri plate containing sterilized
solidified potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium. The

fungi were purified, sub-cultured and maintained

on potato dextrose agar slants.

Testing of antagonistic activity in vitro

The efficacy of T. viride and T. harzianum
were tested by dual culture technique (Dennis and
Webster 1971) using PDA medium. A mycelial disc
of the pathogen (8 mm diameter) was placed at
one end of the petriplate and at the opposite end; a
mycelial disc of the test antagonistic fungus (8 mm
diameter) was placed. The plates were incubated
at 28 2C. The linear growth of antagonist and
pathogen colonies was measured at 3, 5 and 8 days
after incubation. T. viride was found to be best
which was used for further studies. The efficacy
of P. fluorescens and B. subtilis against the
pathogen was tested by dual culture method on
PDA medium. Medium was added in sterilized Petri
plates allowed to solidify for 1h. Then the bacterial
antagonist was streaked at the periphery of the
petriplate. Just opposite to the bacterial streak, 8
mm disc of the pathogen was placed. The plates
were incubated at 28 2C. The linear growth of
antagonist and pathogen colonies was measured at
24, 48 and 72 h after incubation.

SHANMUGAPACKIAM, Exploitation of Compost Amended Biological Agents for the Management of Vascular Wilt

Compatibility between fungal and bacterial

strains
PGPR isolates were tested for their
compatibility by following the method described
by Fukui et al. (1994). The compatibility was
determined for P. fluorescens and B. subtilis isolate
using nutrient agar medium. Nine mm mycelial disc
of the T. viride placed in the centre of Petri plate
containing PDA medium. Adjacent to the fungal
antagonist on both the side P. fluorescens and B.
subtilis strains were streaked. Petri plate containing
fungal antagonist alone served as control. Mycelial
growth over growing was recorded at different
interval and compared with that of control.

Preparation of inoculum of P. fluorescens

A loopful of isolate of P. fluorescens strain
was inoculated into the sterilized Kings B broth
and incubated in a rotary shaker at 150 rpm for 72
hr at room temperature (28 2C). After 72 hours,
400 ml of bacterial broth suspension containing 9
x 108 cfu ml-1, 1 kg of the carrier material (talc
powder), 15 g calcium carbonate (to adjust the pH
to neutral) and 5 g CMC (adhesive) were mixed

2935

under sterile conditions as per the method described

by Vidhyasekaran and Muthamilan (1995). After
drying (approximately 35% moisture content) over
night under sterile conditions, it was packed in
polypropylene bag, sealed and stored at room
temperature (25 2C).

Preparation of inoculum of T. viride

Isolate of T. viride strain was multiplied in
molasses-yeast broth (30 ml molasses; 5 g yeast;
made up to 1000 ml). The sterilized broth (121C,
15 psi for 30 min) was inoculated with actively
growing mycelial disc of nine mm diameter and
incubated for 15 days. The biomass (containing 3
x 10 8 cfu ml -1 ) along with the medium was
incorporated into the sterilized talc powder carrier
material (105C for 12 h) @ 50 ml suspension per
100 g and thoroughly mixed with addition of 500
mg CMC as reported by Ramakrishnan et al.
(1994). The contents were shade dried for 12 h
and stored in polythene bags. The PGPR strains
were grown separately at room temperature (25
2C) for 48 h and equal volume of strains designated
for a mixture were mixed with talc powder and the
formulation was prepared as in the case of
individual strains.

Table 2. Effect of antagonist with composts on plant growth promotion and yield parameters
of tomato under pot culture experiment
T.

Treatments

No.

Germ.
(%)*

Shoot length
(cm)*

Root length
(cm)*

Vigour
index

Yield*
(g/plant)

T1

T. viride (ST @ 4g/kg-1 of seed + SA @ 4

kg/ha)

93.13

7.50

2.91

969.48e

210.76e

T2

P. fluorescens (ST@ 10g kg-1 of seed + SA

@ 10 kg/ha)

96.92

8.02

3.12

1079.68d

235.82d

T3

T1+T2

97.58

8.82

3.67

1218.77cd

246.17cd

T4

Coir pith compost(SA@ 50kg/ha)

90.32

7.00

2.21

831.84f

198.43e

T5

Sugarcane trash (SA @ 50kg /ha)

89.43

6.62

2.06

776.25g

196.33ef

T6

Banana waste (SA @ 50kg /ha)

88.30

6.17

2.00

721.41gh

175.43f

T7

T3 + T4

98.61

9.12

4.39

1332.22a

313.50a

T8

T3 + T5

97.53

8.93

4.11

1271.79b

282.25b

T9

T3 + T6

95.50

8.88

4.01

1230.99c

258.17c

T10

Inoculated control

56.70

5.80

1.40

748.44

165.78f

*Values are the means of three replications. Means in a column followed by the same superscripts are not significantly
different according to Duncans multiple range test (DMRT) at P = 0.05

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Advances in Life Sciences 5(7), 2016

Table 3. Effect of antagonist with compost on wilt disease incidence of tomato under pot culture experiment

Treat.
No.

Treatments

Disease incidence
(%)*

Per cent reduction over

control

T1

T. viride (ST @ 4g kg-1 of seed + SA @ 4 kg/ha)

22.20f

62.45

T2

P. fluorescens (ST@ 10g kg-1 of seed + SA @ 10 kg/ha)

19.14de

67.63

T1+T2

17.07d

71.13

Coir pith compost (SA @ 50kg/ha)

28.68g

51.49

T3
T4
T5

Sugarcane trash (SA @ 50kg /ha)

33.88

42.69

T6

Banana waste( SA @ 50kg /ha)

36.63i

38.04

T7

T3 + T4

8.01a

86.45

T3 + T5

12.02b

79.67

T9

T3 + T6

bc

15.04

74.56

T10

Inoculated control

59.12

T8

*Values are the means of three replications. Means in a column followed by the same superscripts are not significantly
different according to Duncans multiple range test (DMRT) at P = 0.05

Pot culture experiment

A pot culture study was conducted with
sterilized garden land soil in completely randomized
block design with 11 treatments. Earthen pots of
30 cm dia. were filled with 5 kg of soil and
inoculum multiplied in sand maize medium (Riker
and Riker, 1936) was mixed with soil @ 50 g kg-1.
Twenty five seeds of tomato, PKM-1, surface
sterilized with one per cent (w/v) sodium
hypochlorite (NaOCl) solution were sown in each

pot. The plants in the pots were maintained with

uniform, regular and judicious watering. Talc based
formulation containing 2 x 108 cfu g-1 of T. viride,
2 x 108 of P. fluorescens and compost were used
for the present study. Details of the pot culture
experiment are given below: T1- T. viride (seed
application @ 4g kg-1 of seed + soil application @
2.5kg/ha), T2- P. fluorescens (seed application @
10g kg-1 of seed + soil application @ 2.5kg/ha),
T3- T1+T2, T4- Soil application of coir pith

Table 4. Effect of antagonist with compost on plant growth promotion and yield parameters
of tomato under field experiment
Shoot length
(cm)*

Root length
(cm)*

Vigour
Index

90.30

10.90

3.0

1255.1f

49.32cd

P. fluorescens (ST@ 10g kg-1 of seed +

SA @ 10 kg/ha)

92.50

11.50

3.4

1378.2e

50.42c

T3

T1+T2

94.40

12.05

3.64

1489.9d

52.64b

T4

Coir pith compost (SA @ 50kg/ha)

86.00

9.01

2.32

974.38g

49.00cd
46.65d

Treat.
No.

Treatments

Germination
(%)*

T1

T. viride (ST @ 4g kg-1 of seed + SA @

4 kg/ha)

T2

Fruit yield
(t/ha)

T5

Sugarcane trash (SA @ 50kg /ha)

85.10

8.63

2.0

904.61h

T6

Banana waste( SA @ 50kg /ha)

83.08

8.08

2.0

837.44i

45.00de

T7

T3 + T4

97.39

14.98

4.78

1924.4a

56.32a

T8

T3 + T5

95.02

13.13

4.18

1644.7b

56.00a

T9

T3 + T6

95.98

12.68

4.14

1614.3

52.65b

T10

Inoculated control

72.00

10.35

1.02

818.6j

36.65d

*Values are the means of three replications. Means in a column followed by the same superscripts are not significantly different
according to Duncans multiple range test (DMRT) at P = 0.05

SHANMUGAPACKIAM, Exploitation of Compost Amended Biological Agents for the Management of Vascular Wilt

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Table 5. Effect of antagonists along with compost on wilt disease incidence of tomato under
field experiment
Treat.
No.

Treatments

T1

T. viride (ST @ 4g kg-1 of seed + SA @ 4 kg/ha)

T2

P. fluorescens (ST@ 10g kg-1 of

T3

seed + SA @ 10 kg/ha)

T1+T2

Fusarium wilt
incidence (%)*

Per cent reduction

over control

23.63f

62.09

20.96cde

66.38

18.53cd

70.28

T4

Coir pith compost (SA @ 50kg/ha)

31.57

49.36

T5

Sugarcane trash (SA @ 50kg /ha)

35.86h

42.48

T6

Banana waste( SA @ 50kg /ha)

38.86i

37.66

T3 + T4

11.69a

81.25

T3 + T5

14.45

76.82

T9

T3 + T6

16.68bc

73.24

T10

Inoculated control

62.34j

T7
T8

*Values are the means of three replications. Means in a column followed by the same superscripts are not significantly different
according to Duncans multiple range test (DMRT) at P = 0.05

compost @50kg/ha, T5- Soil application of

Sugarcane trash compost @ 50kg/ha, T6- Soil
application of Banana waste compost @ 50kg/ha,
T7- T3+ T4, T8- T3 + T5, T9-T3+T6, T10Inoculated control and T11-Uninoculated control.
Observations of the percentage of germination
shoot length, root length were made in 15 DAS
and vigour index was calculated by the standard
procedure. The disease was also calculated.

Field experiment
A field experiment was conducted in a plot
of land infested with naturally occurring F.
oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici at Faculty of
Agriculture, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu,
India. The tomato variety (cv. PKM-1) was used
to test the efficacy of the rhizobacteria and
endophytic bio-formulations against Fusarium wilt
disease. Seed treatment, seedling root dip and soil
application of PGPR and PGPE strains were
conducted as described previously (Nandakumar
et al., 2001). Tomato seeds were soaked for 24 h
in inoculum containing talc-based bio-formulation
(10 g/kg of seed) of individual and mixtures of Tv1
and Pf1 strains. The seeds soaked in distilled water
alone served as control. Treated seeds were allowed
to sprout and sown in nursery bed. The seedlings
were pulled out 25 days after sowing and planted
in the main field. Recommended dose of fertilizer

(80:40:50 kg of N, P2O5, K2O/ha) was applied to

the field. For dipping seedling roots, tomato
seedlings in bundles were dipped in inoculum
containing talc-based bio-formulation (10 g/l) for
2 h. The talc-based bio-formulation product (2.5
kg/ha) was mixed with 50 kg of different compost
was applied at 30 and 60 days after planting as soil
application. The efficacy of the antagonists along
with compost bio-formulations was assessed by
comparing with the plants raised from the seeds
treated with water at 30 and 60 days after planting.
Natural incidence of Fusarium wilt was recorded
in each plot at the time of flowering stage.
Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three
replications was used in the experiments with plot
size of 7.55 x 7.0 m. Observations were made on
shoot length, root length and germination
percentage, vigour index and disease incidence were
calculated as describe earlier.

Statistical analysis
The data were statistically analysed using the
IRRISTAT version 92 developed by the International
Rice Research Institute Biometrics Unit, the
Philippines (Gomez and Gomez 1984). Prior to
statistical ANOVA, the percentage damage of leaf
folder was arcsine transformed. Data were
subjected to ANOVA at 5% significant level (P <
0.05) and means were compared by Duncans
Multiple Range Test (DMRT).

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Advances in Life Sciences 5(7), 2016

RESULTS
In vitro antagonistic activity
In vitro antagonistic activity of strains of
fungal and bacterial antagonists was tested against
F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici under in vitro
condition. In general, all the strains were effective
in reducing mycelial growth of pathogens. Among
the fungal and bacterial antagonists, T. viride (Tv1)
recorded the maximum growth inhibition (57.91%)
against F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. This was
followed by P. fluorescens (Pf1) recorded the
maximum mycelial growth reduction (55.50%)
compared to control. The control plates recorded
the highest mycelial growth of 90.00 mm (Table
1).

Growth promotion activity

Among the seven bacterial and eight fungal
strains tested, Pf1 recorded maximum vigour index
(1617.72), similarly eight fungal strains tested,
among them T. viride (Tv1) recorded maximum
vigour index (1560.56). The same isolates were
also recorded maximum inhibition zone against F.
oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici in lab condition. Hence
the fungal strain T. viride (Tv1) and the bacterial
strain P. fluorescens (Pf1) were used for the present
study.

Testing the compatibility among the

biocontrol agents
Compatibility among the biocontrol strains
was tested and the results revealed that Strain of P.
fluorescens and B. subtilis were tested to establish
their compatibility under in vitro condition. After
48 hr, the interaction was observed that there was
no inhibition zone and over growth between
bacterial strains, which indicated the compatibility
among the bacterial strains. The dual culture
technique was followed to test the compatibility
between fungal biocontrol agents and P. fluorescens
and B. subtilis. The result showed that there was
no inhibition zone and over growth between fungal
strains and P. fluorescens. None of the antagonistic
bacteria were inhibited by each other. So the absence
of inhibition zone suggesting that these biocontrol
agents were compatible with each other.

Effect of antagonists along with application

of compost on the plant growth promotion,
plant and yield parameters of tomato
under pot culture experiment
A pot culture experiment was conducted

to test the efficacy of antagonists along with

application of compost with different methods of
application. The results of the experiments are
furnished below. In the data present the Table 2;
revealed that all the treatments with bioagents and
compost significantly increased the germination
percentage, vigour index and fruit yield than the
control. Among the various treatment, the highest
germination percentage (98.61), shoot length (9.12
cm), root length (4.39 cm) and fruit yield (313.50
g/plant) were observed in the treatment (T7). It
was followed by application of T. viride plus P.
fluorescens along with sugarcane 193 compost (T8)
and application of T. viride plus P. fluorescens along
with banana waste compost (T9) both where
statistically on par with each other. Application of
P. fluorescens along with T. viride (T3) recorded
maximum germination percentage (97.58), shoot
length (8.82 cm), root length (3.67 cm) and fruit
yield (246.17 g/plant) than the individual application
of bio agent.

Effect of antagonists along with application

of compost on wilt disease incidence of
tomato under pot culture experiment
The experimental results Table 3 revealed that
all the treatments are significantly reduced wilt
disease when compared to control. Application of
T. viride plus P. fluorescens along with coir pith
compost (T7) reduced the maximum per cent of
diseases incidence (8.01). This was followed by
application of T. viride plus P. fluorescens along
with sugarcane trash compost (T8) recorded 12.02
per cent, which were statistically on par with each
other. Combined application of P. fluorescens along
with T. viride (T3) registered minimum diseases
incidence (17.07 per cent) than the individual
application of bio agent.

Effect of antagonistic with application of

compost on the rhizosphere survival of F.
oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici under pot
culture in tomato
The data on rhizosphere survival of F.
oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici revealed that application
of T. viride plus P. fluorescens along with coir pith
compost (T7) significantly reduced the population
of F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (3.0x 102 cfu g1
of soil) on 90 DAT when compared to all other
treatments. This was followed by application of T.
viride+ P. fluorescens along with sugarcane
compost (T8) recorded (3.1x 102 cfu g-1 of soil).
But all the treatments significantly reduce the

SHANMUGAPACKIAM, Exploitation of Compost Amended Biological Agents for the Management of Vascular Wilt

population of F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici over

control (9.6 x 103 cfu g-1 of soil).

Effect of antagonists with application of

compost on plant growth promotion, plant
and yield parameters of tomato under field
experiment
Field trial was conducted to test the
efficacy of bioagents with different methods of
applications. The results of the experiments are
furnished below. In the data present the Table 4
revealed that all the treatments with bioagents
significantly increased the germination percentage,
shoot and root length, vigour index, dry matter
production and fruit yield Among the various
treatment the highest germination percentage
(97.39), shoot length (14.98 cm), root length
(4.78cm) and fruit yield (56.32 t/ha) were observed
in the treatment (T7). It was followed by application
of T. viride plus P. fluorescens along with
Sugarcane compost (T8) and application of T.
viride+ P. fluorescens along with banana waste
compost (T9) both where statistically on par with
each other. Application of P. fluorescens along with
T. viride (T3 ) recorded maximum germination
percentage (94.90), shoot length (12.05 cm), root
length (3.65 cm) and fruit yield (52.44 t/ha) than
the individual application of bio agent.

Effect of antagonists with application of

compost on wilt disease incidence of
tomato under field experiment
The experimental results Table 5 revealed that
all the treatments are significantly reduced the
Fusarium wilt when compared to control.
Application of T. viride plus P. fluorescens along
with coir pith compost (T7) significantly reduced
the diseases incidence (11.69 percent). This was
followed by application of T. viride plus P.
fluorescens along with sugarcane trash compost
(T8) recorded 14.45 and application of T. viride
plus P. fluorescens along with Banana waste
compost (T9 recorded (16.68 per cent) which were
statistically on par with each other. Combined
application of P. fluorescens along with T. viride
(T3) registered minimum diseases incidence (18.53
per cent) than the individual application of bio agent.
Generally application of bio agents along with
compost significantly reduce the wilt incidence
than application of bio agents alone

2939

Effect of antagonistics with compost on the

rhizosphere survival of F. oxysporum f. sp.
lycopersici under field condition in tomato
The data on rhizosphere survival of F.
oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici revealed that application
of T. viride plus P. fluorescens along with coir pith
compost (T7) significantly reduced the population
of F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici (1.2 x 102 cfu g1
of soil) on 90 DAT. when compared to all other
treatments This was followed by application of T.
viride plus P. fluorescens along with sugarcane
compost (T8) recorded (1.3 x 102 cfu g-1 of soil)
and application of T. viride plus P. fluorescens along
with Banana waste compost (T9) recorded (1.4 x
102 cfu g-1 of soil). Applications of bio agents along
with compost significantly reduced the rhizosphere
survival of F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici than the
application of bio agent alone. But all the treatments
significantly reduce the population of F. oxysporum
f.sp. lycopersici over control (3.0 x 103 cfu g-1 of
soil).

DISCUSSION
The indiscriminative use of fungicides leads
to health hazards, environmental pollution and
toxicity. Thus, it becomes necessary for finding
alternative resources to reduce the chemical
fungicides. There have been many research efforts
to demonstrate the significance of Pseudomonas
bacteria in the rhizosphere and on the roots. The
talc based formulation has been already
demonstrated in different agriculture and
horticulture crops against pests, diseases and
nematodes (Harish, 2005; Rajendran et al., 2006;
Saravanakumar et al., 2008). In present study
revealed that all the antagonistics organism viz.,
Trichoderma viride, T. harzianum, P. fluorescens,
Bacillus subtilis showed inhibit effect on the growth
of F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici in vitro condition.
But slight variation was recorded among the species
of same antagonistics. Similar result was observed
by several workers Ramanathan (1989) stated that
T. viride and T. harzianum significantly inhibited
the grown of F.oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. The
mycoparasitic potential of Pseudomonas spp. is well
documented (Keel and Defago, 1997). The inhibition
of mycelial growth may be due to the production
of antibiotics viz., 2,4-diacetyl phloroglucinol,
phenazine, pyrrolnitrin, HCN and lytic enzymes
were reported by many workers (Ramamoorthy
and Samiyappan, (2001).

2940

Advances in Life Sciences 5(7), 2016

Among the eight isolates of fungal

antagonistics tested, the isolate T. viride 1 was
found to increase in plant vigour under laboratory
conditions. Similarly seven isolates of bacterial
antagonistics were tested, among them; P.
fluorescens (Pf1) recorded maximum plant vigour.
The same both isolates viz., T. viride (Tv1), P.
fluorescens (Pf1) also effectively inhibited the
mycelial growth of the F. oxysporum f. sp.
lycopersici, in in vitro condition. These findings
are agreement with the reports of several workers;
Manoranjitham et al. (2000) stated that increased
seedling vigour in cucumber due to application of
T. harzianum. Mantoranello and Mello (1996) stated
that increased in tomato shoot growth due to the
application of Pseudomonas. The present
investigation also revealed that all the strains of
Pseudomonas were compatible with all the strains
of Trichoderma and Bacillus, whereas all the strains
of T. viride, and T. harzianum were incompatible
with Bacillus subtilis. The present investigation
revealed that combined application of T. viride and
P. fluorescens along with coir pith significantly
reduce the F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici disease
incidence than the application of any one bioagent
alone under pot culture. The similar results were
reported by Manoranjitham et al. (2000) is chilli.
Zaidi et al. (2004) application of T. viride and P.
fluorescens effectively check the Fusarium wilt of
tomato caused by F.oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici
under pot culture experiment. Latha and
Narasimhan, (2001) reported that seed treatment
with P. fluorescens, T. viride and P. lilacinus in
combination reduced the M. phaseolina and
Heterodera cajani complex in blackgram. Thus the
results presented here indicate that the combined
application of T. viride plus P. fluorescens along
with coir pith can enhance the growth promotion
activity and improve the consistency of pathogen
suppression thought cropping period in tomato.

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Received on 26-03-2016

Accepted on 31-03-2016