Protoplast fusion enhances mycoherbicidal efficiency of Fusarium pallidoroseum (Cooke) Sacc. – a pathogen of water hyacinth

Protoplast fusion between Fusarium pallidoroseum and F. oxysporum was carried out to develop an efficient mycoherbicide against water hyacinth. The fusants were selected by growing in PDA media amended with lead acetate (4500 ppm) + Nizral (2000 ppm). Six fusants (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, and F6) grew well in the media - of which two (F5 and F6) exhibited high infectivity of F. oxysporum and had limited host range as in the case of F. pallidoroseum suggestive of the potential of these interspecific hybrids to be used as biocontrol agents against water hyacinth.