Journal of Environmental Biology

Bio-control potential of Cladosporium sp. (MCPL - 461), against a noxious weed Parthenium hysterophorus L.

 

Anuj Kumar, V.C. Verma, S.K. Gond, V. Kumar and R.N. Kharwar*

Mycopathology and Microbial Technology Laboratory, Centre of Advanced Study in Botany,

Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi- 221 005, India

(Received: August 09, 2007; Revised received: December 02, 2007; Accepted: February 20, 2008)

Abstract: The phenological survey of Parthenium hysterophorus L., in and around the campus of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) was done for about two years (2004-06). During Nov. 2004, a few Parthenium plants were found diseased, and symptoms were restricted to the flowers, buds, and inflorescences. The disease causes sterility and reduces seed viability, which was observed with seed germination test from infected and healthy plants. The fungal pathogen was isolated and identified as Cladosporium sp. (MCPL-461). The severity of pathogen to the reproductive organs led to serious damages of the Parthenium plants. Thus in vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to determine the bio-control potential of Cladosporium sp. (MCPL 461) against Parthenium weed. A combinatorial effort of Cladosporium sp. (MCPL 461) bio-control potential was evaluated with different culture media, incubation periods and spores strength.? Spore suspension of? 10⁵ to 10¹² spores ml^-1 were used to spray on healthy Parthenium plants, and it was found that severe infection symptoms were appeared? at 10¹⁰ to 10¹² spores ml^-1 suspension. LD₅₀ was found at 10⁷spores ml^-1. To enhance the myco-herbicide activity 3% sucrose was added to the spore suspension, which further resolute the bio-control efficacy of the isolates. Only 20-30 % seeds of infected plants could germinate. However the safety of non-targeted and wild plants was also tested with Lantana camera, Chromolaena odorata and found that suspension up to 10¹² spores ml^-1 were not sufficient for disease outbreak in them.

Key words: Parthenium hysterophorus, Cladosporium sp., Weed bio-control, Bio-control agent

PDF of full length paper is available with authors (*kharwar1@rediffmail.com, rnkharwar@yahoo.com)

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