Use of agro-wastes for Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae (C1136) production with sustainable bioefficacy

The study was undertaken to prime a strain of Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae (C1136) as a mycoherbicidal agent against Amaranthus hybridus L. (pigweed) utilizing various agricultural wastes for its production. The rate of mortality and dry weight reduction of the target weed was determined in both the greenhouse and field conditions. The mycoherbicidal efficacy of the highly virulent isolate (strain C1136) was established based on the influence of the dew period, temperature, and inoculum concentration as well as plant growth stages. A dew period of 72 h was observed to be the highest time period necessary to obtain 90.6% mortality rate while there was no death observed at 0- and 12-h dew period treatments, respectively. Maximum disease development and mortality rate was observed at 25 °C on the target weed. It was observed that the inoculum concentration at 4 × 10 6 CFU/ml had the highest dry weight reduction of 98.60% and mortality rate of 89.4%. Groundnut husks gave comparatively the best spore yield (9.8 × 10 7 CFU/g), and yam peels gave the least (1.1 × 10 7 CFU/g). Greenhouse and field trials showed that the strain C1136 had a strong antagonistic effect on the test weed. This study therefore confirms the suitability of the strain C1136 as a potentially effective bioherbicidal agent that is eco-friendly. Furthermore, the cheap strain’s observed responses to the environmental parameters assessed in the study affirmed its sustainability and possibility as a permanent substitute for synthetic herbicides in agrosystems’ practices for effective weed management.