title: Effect of seed pelleting with biocontrol agents on growth and colonisation of roots of mungbean by root-infecting fungi.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) is a leguminous pulse crop that is a major source of proteins, vitamins and minerals. Root-infecting fungi produce severe plant diseases like root rot, charcoal rot, damping-off and stem rot. The soil-borne pathogens can be controlled by chemicals, but these chemicals have several negative effects. Use of microbial antagonist such as fungi and bacteria is a safe, effective and eco-friendly method for the control of many soil-borne pathogens. Biological control agents promote plant growth and develop disease resistance. Application of bacteria and fungi as seed dressing suppressed the root-infecting fungi on leguminous crops.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seeds of mungbean were pelleted with different biocontrol agents to determine their effect on plant growth and colonisation of roots by root-infecting fungi, viz. Fusarium solani, Macrophomina phaseolina, Pythium aphanidermatum, Rhizoctonia solani and Sclerotium rolfsii. Treatment of mungbean seeds with fungal antagonists showed more shoot and root length as compared to bacterial antagonists, whereas seed treated with bacterial antagonists showed maximum shoot and root weight. Trichoderma harzianum and Bacillus subtilis were the best among all the biocontrol agents since they provided the highest plant growth and greater reduction in root colonisation by all root-infecting fungi. Bacillus cereus, Trichoderma virens, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Micrococcus varians were also effective against root-infecting fungi but to a lesser extent. T. harzianum, T. virens, B. subtilis and P. fluorescens were found to be best among all biocontrol agents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The root-infecting fungi can be controlled by pelleting seeds with biocontrol agents as it is safe and effective method. Additionally, plant growth was promoted more by this method. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors.affiliation: Pest & Disease Research Lab., Department of Agriculture & Agribusiness Management, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ramzan
authors.affiliation: Pest & Disease Research Lab., Department of Agriculture & Agribusiness Management, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Nayara
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Noreen
authors.affiliation: Pest & Disease Research Lab., Department of Agriculture & Agribusiness Management, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Zahida
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Perveen
authors.affiliation: Pest & Disease Research Lab., Department of Agriculture & Agribusiness Management, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Saleem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shahzad
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria; D061046:Biological Control Agents; D005658:Fungi; D006801:Humans; D056265:Microbial Interactions; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology*; D012639:Seeds / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology*; D000070658:Vigna / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D061046:Biological Control Agents
keywords: bacterial antagonists; fungal antagonists; root-infecting fungi; seed pelleting