Granular formulation of Fusarium oxysporum for biological control of faba bean and tomato Orobanche.
BACKGROUND
Orobanche spp. represent a serious threat to a wide range of crops. They are difficult targets for herbicides, and biological control could provide a possible solution. This work therefore aimed to formulate mycoherbicides of Fusarium with adequate shelf life and virulence against Orobanche but safe to faba bean and tomato.


RESULTS
Only two isolates of Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht. (Foxy I and Foxy II) obtained from diseased Orobanche shoots were found to be pathogenic to Orobanche crenata Forsk. and Orobanche ramosa L. Conidial suspension of both isolates significantly decreased germination, attachments and tubercles of Orobanche. Microconidia and chlamydospores of both isolates were formulated as mycoherbicides encapsulated in a wheat flour-kaolin matrix (four different formulations). All formulations greatly diminished Orobanche emerged shoots, total shoot number, shoot height, attachment of emerged shoots, the germinated seeds that succeeded in emerging above the soil surface and dry weight. Meanwhile, disease incidence and disease severity of emerged shoots were enhanced. The shelf life was adequate, particularly for coarse, freshly prepared, low-temperature-stored, microconidia-rich formulations. The induced growth reduction of Orobanche-infected host plants seemed to be nullified by formulations, particularly at the highest dose.


CONCLUSIONS
These formulations seemed to destroy Orobanche but appeared harmless to host plants. Hence, they could be efficiently used as mycoherbicides for biological control of Orobanche in faba bean and tomato.
Nemat Alla
Mamdouh M
MM
Botany Department, Faculty of Science at Damietta, Mansoura University, Damietta, Egypt. mamnematalla@mans.edu.eg
Shabana
Yasser M
YM
Serag
Mamdouh M
MM
Hassan
Nemat M
NM
El-Hawary
Mohamed M
MM
D005670:Fusarium / Q000502:physiology*; D006540:Herbicides; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000469:parasitology; D031672:Orobanche / Q000382:microbiology*; D010935:Plant Diseases; D031307:Vicia faba / Q000469:parasitology
D006540:Herbicides