title: Biological control of Rigidoporus lignosus in Hevea brasiliensis in Nigeria.
abstract: The study was conducted to evaluate in vitro and in vivo control of fungal antagonists on Rigidoporus lignosus (klotzsch) Imaz in Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex A. Juss.) Muell. Arg. in the rain forest zone of Nigeria. In vitro assessments of biological agents were carried out in dixenic cultures in Petri plates. In vivo tests were carried out in the nursery using Hypocrea virens and Hypocrea jecorina. Significant differences were observed with the dual inoculations of fungal antagonists and R. lignosus inoculated the same day, and the antagonists inoculated 24 h before inoculation of R. lignosus. Hypocrea jecorina was most effective in the control of R. lignosus with percentage inhibition of 86.83 %. Hypocrea virens, H. jecorina, Trichoderma spirale, Trichoderma sp., Trichoderma sp. Pers, and Hypocrea lixii were effective on R. lignosus. Fungal antagonists inoculated 24 h before inoculation of R. lignosus exhibited higher inhibitory efficacies than antagonists and R. lignosus inoculated the same day. In the in vivo evaluation of fungi antagonists on R. lignosus, seedlings in H. jecorina treatment at 60 d and H. virens treatment at 150 d after inoculations respectively had the highest plant heaths (highest length of stem and length of tap rot, lowest plant death, and least foliar symptom) compared to the control. Mortality rate was higher at 60 d after inoculation and decline from the third months onward. Significant differences were observed between the control and R. lignosus treatment in all the parameters evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Plant Protection Division, Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria, PMB 1049, Iyanomo, Benin City 300241, Nigeria. Electronic address: ogbeb06@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nicholas Obehi
authors.initials: NO
authors.lastname: Ogbebor
authors.affiliation: Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, PMB 1154, Benin City 300241, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Adefunke Temitayo
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Adekunle
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Science, University of Benin, PMB 1154, Benin City 300241, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Odeh Nosakhare
authors.initials: ON
authors.lastname: Eghafona
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, PMB 1154, Benin City 300241, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Abraham Ikponmwosa
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Ogboghodo
mesh_terms: D000898:Antibiosis; D055453:Coriolaceae / Q000254:growth & development*; D028482:Hevea / Q000382:microbiology*; D035901:Hypocrea / Q000502:physiology; D009549:Nigeria; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods*; D063245:Plant Development; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014242:Trichoderma / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Incidence; Management; Para rubber; Root rot