Antagonistic Effects of Microbial Agents Against Damping off and Root Rot of Faba Bean seedlings
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56727/NTU-JAVS.2026.6.2.222-228Keywords:
Antagonist, Trichoderma viride, Bacillus megaterium, damping-off, Rhizoctonia solani, root rot, Fusarium solaniAbstract
Soil-borne fungi such as Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium solani cause severe damping-off and root-rot in faba bean (Vicia faba), leading to reduced germination and poor stand establishment. This study evaluated the antagonistic potential of two microbial biocontrol agents — Trichoderma viride and Bacillus megaterium — against these pathogens under in vitro and seedling (in vivo) conditions. Dual-culture assays demonstrated that T. viride and B. megaterium significantly inhibited pathogen mycelial growth, with T. viride achieving up to 52% inhibition of R. solani and up to 59% inhibition of F. solani after eight days, while B. megaterium produced inhibition ranges up to 47% and 45%, respectively. Seed-soaking treatments substantially reduced disease incidence: damping-off recorded in pathogen-inoculated controls (45% for R. solani, 40% for F. solani) was reduced to 26% and 25% following T. viride treatment and to 30% and 32% following B. megaterium treatment. Seedling survival was consequently enhanced (e.g., 23% surviving in the R. solani control compared with 63.8% in the presence of T. viride). Treated seedlings also showed significant higher fresh and dry biomass (>75% better than infected controls) suggesting disease suppression in addition to growth promotion. The findings underpin the application of T. viride and B. megaterium as potential, environmentally friendly biological agents to control damping-off and root rot in faba bean crops, possibly being included in greenhouse and field practices.
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