Biocontrol Potential of Root Endophytic Fungi and Trichoderma Species Against Fusarium Wilt of Lentil Under In vitro and Greenhouse Conditions

Lentil wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lentis is one of the main limiting factors to successful lentil cultivation. Effect of four antagonistic fungi, namely: Piriformospora indica, Sebacina vermifera, Trichoderma viride and Trichoderma harzianum as well as combinations among them were evaluated against Fusarium wilt of lentil. In in vitro experiments, the effect of the antagonistic fungi against the pathogen were evaluated in dual cultures of volatile metabolite and colonization. Results revealed that antagonistic fungi could produce a proper zone of inhibition. In pot culture experiments, two isolates of pathogen were inoculated within three time schedules, namely: 10 days prior to sowing, concomitant with sowing and 10 days past sowing. Seventeen treatments, including two controls and fifteen combinations of antagonistic fungi were employed to inoculate seeds concordant with sowing. Plant height, plant dry weight, root length, root dry weight along with disease severity were assessed at the flowering stage. Maximum plant height and minimum disease severity with regard to the two isolates of pathogen were observed in pots treated with S. vermifera+T. harzianum