title: Bioefficacy of novel cyanobacteria-amended formulations in suppressing damping off disease in tomato seedlings.
abstract: Biological control of plant pathogens is receiving increasing relevance, as compared to chemical methods, as they are eco-friendly, economical and indirectly improve plant quality and yield attributes. An investigation was undertaken to evaluate the potential of antagonistic cyanobacteria (Anabaena variabilis RPAN59 and A. oscillarioides RPAN69) fortified formulations for suppressing damping off disease in tomato seedlings challenged by the inoculation of a fungal consortium (Pythium debaryanum, Fusarium oxysporum lycopersici, Fusarium moniliforme and Rhizoctonia solani). Treatment with A. variabilis amended formulations recorded significantly higher plant growth parameters, than other treatments, including biological control (Trichoderma formulation) and chemical control (Thiram-Carbendazim). The A. variabilis amended compost-vermiculite and compost formulations exhibited 10-15 % lower disease severity and 40-50 % higher values than chemical and biological control treatments in terms of fresh weight and height of the plants. In future, in depth analyses regarding the mechanism involved in biocontrol by cyanobacteria and evaluation of these formulations under field conditions are proposed to be undertaken.
authors.affiliation: Division of Microbiology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, 110012, India.
authors.forename: Vidhi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chaudhary
authors.forename: Radha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Prasanna
authors.forename: Lata
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nain
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Dubey
authors.forename: Vishal
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Rajendra
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Seema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jaggi
authors.forename: Ashok Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Bhatnagar
mesh_terms: D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000254:growth & development*; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D036226:Seedlings / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology*