Abstract
Twenty fungus and ten bacterium isolates of microorganisms associated with Fusarium wilt disease infected cumin plants were obtained from samples collected from different locations of Assiut Governorate. On the basis of a preliminary antagonism test conducted in vitro, 3 fungal isolates (Trichoderma harzianum, T. humatum, and T. viride) and one bacterial (Bacillus subtilis) isolate were screened. These antagonists were further screened by artificially infested pottingsoil bioassay including a commercial formulation (biocide ‘Plant Guard’) in addition to untreated seeds (positive control). The untreated seeds grown in the sterile soil free of the pathogen (negative control) were also used. No w i l t s y m p t o m s w e r e o b s e r v e d o n t h e c u m i n plants raised from untreated seeds when grown in sterile soil (negative control) while untreated seeds grown in the infested soil (positive control) showed 90% to 95% infected plants. The plants grown under the latter treatment were significantly shorter with lesser weight than the former. Comparing with the positive control, all isolated antagonists and the biocide had a significantly lower percentage of infection and developed plants similar to the negative control concerning plant length and weight. The lowest percentage of infection was found in presowing treatment with T. harzianum. However, there were no differences among the different biocontrol seed treatments (locally isolated antagonists and the biocide) and the negative control treatment. We concluded that efficient bio-control agents might be developed via bioassay for microorganisms associated with local cumin cultures. This research is considered, therefore, a significant step toward finding an efficient environment friendly strategy for the management of Fusarium wilt disease in cumin.
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