Biocontrol of Fusarium wilt of cucumber with Trichoderma longibrachiatum NGJ167 (Rifai)
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Date
2016-08-26
Authors
Kareem, T. K.
Ugoji, E. O.
Aboaba, O. O.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
British Microbiology Research Journal
Abstract
Aim: This research investigated the use of Trichoderma longibrachiatum NGJ167 (Rifai) as a
biocontrol agent of Fusarium wilt in cucumber varieties (Ashley and Marketmoor) both in the
screenhouse and on the field.
Study Design: The screenhouse experiment was laid down in a Completely Randomized Design
(CRD) while Randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used for the field experiment.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the National Horticultural Research
Institute, Ibadan between 2012 and 2013.
Methodology: Soils were inoculated with mycelial plugs of T. longibrachiatum NGJ167 before
planting while the control soil was mock-inoculated with agar plugs of Potato dextrose agar (PDA).
Two weeks after planting, F. oxysporum was inoculated into the soils in the screenhouse while
natural infection was allowed to occur on the field. The biocontrol abilities of T. longibrachiatum
NGJ167 on F. oxysporum was observed on disease incidence and severity and the fruit yield. The
presence of T. longibrachiatum NGJ167 genes was detected in the treated cucumber fruits to
ensure consumers’ safety.
Results: The control plants had higher incidence and severity of F. oxysporum than the T.
longibrachiatum-treated plants. The T. longibrachiatum NGJ167-inoculated Marketmoor had higher
fruit weight value of 200g in the screenhouse when compared with the control which had a fruit
weight value of 133.33 g. On the field, T. longibrachiatum-treated Marketmoor produced the highest
fruit weight of 220 g while the control had a mean weight of 120.6 g. Results also revealed that T.
longibrachiatum DNAs were absent in the inoculated cucumber fruits.
Conclusion: The use of T. longibrachiatum NGJ167 as a biocontrol agent indicates its potentials in
improving plant health in agriculture. The absence of T. longibrachiatum NGJ167 in the treated
cucumber indicated that the consumption of such fruits will have no adverse effect on consumers’
health.
Description
Scholarly article
Keywords
polymerase chain reaction , disease incidence , Biocontrol , Cucurbitaceae , Research Subject Categories::NATURAL SCIENCES
Citation
Kareem, T.K., Ugoji, O.E. and Aboaba, O.O., 2016. Biocontrol of Fusarium wilt of cucumber with Trichoderma longibrachiatum NGJ167 (Rifai). Br. Microbiol. Res. J, 16, pp.1-11.