Occurrence and colonization of nematophagous fungi in different substrates, agricultural soils and root galls

Abstract

Seventeen species of nematophagous fungi were recorded, three species were endoparasitic and fourteen species were predacious fungi. Among the predacious fungi Arthrobotrys oligospora, Dactylaria brochopaga and Monacrosporium eudermatum were very frequent, whereas others were recorded at lower frequency. Twelve species of nematophagous fungi from compost as well as cow dung manure, 15 species from leaf litter and only eight species from agricultural soils were recorded. In general, substrate colonization by nematophagous fungi was higher in leaf litter, compost and cow dung manure. The agricultural soil amended with FYM (farm yard manure) recorded nine species of nematophagous fungi while unamended soil recorded only seven species. Thirteen species of nematophagous fungi were recorded from soils under banyan tree. Of all these fungi unidentified net-forming fungus, M. eudermatum, A. cladodes, D. brochopaga, S. hadra, A. oligospora and A. dactyloides had higher percentage of soil colonization. In soil collected under pipal tree only eight species were recorded, of which A. oligospora, A. cladode and an unidentified fungus were more predominant as their percentage colonized in soil samples was higher. Few studies have examined root galls as a substratum for colonization of nematophagous fungi. Of all the root gall samples, okra root galls recorded maximum colonization by predacious fungi. Maximum percentage of root gall colonization was recorded for M. eudermatum followed by A. oligospora and M. ellipsosporum. M. eudermatum was also most predominant colonizer of balsam, brinjal and rice root galls.