Effects of Glomus fasciculatum and Trichoderma asperelloides in Roots of Groundnut (Cv. Western-51) Against Pathogen Sclerotium rolfsii

Sclerotium rolfsii (Sacc.) is the causal agent of stem-rot of groundnut plants which is an important damaging soil-borne root pathogen worldwide. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (Glomus fasciculatum) and Trichoderma asperelloides have shown potential bio-control agent properties against several soil-borne plant pathogens. Interactions between G. fasciculatum, T. asperelloides and soil-borne pathogen S. rolfsii were investigated in this present pot culture experiment. The inoculation of G. fasciculatum and T. asperelloides reduced the severity of disease but their combinations were most effective in reducing harmful effects of S. rolfsii. The arbuscule percentage of AM fungi was affected by presence of T. asperelloides but chlorophyll content got increased by AM fungi or T. asperelloides treatments during S. rolfsii attack. The defense related physiological, biochemical and anti-oxidant activities observed in roots of groundnut plant significantly increased by single inoculation of AM fungi or Trichoderma. But, the combined inoculations of AM fungi and Trichoderma species showed the highest defense related activities. Moreover, single application of either AM fungi or Trichoderma species showed potential for the biocontrol of soil-borne plant pathogen but their combined application attributed most substantial inhibition in development of pathogen