Effect of Certain Isolates of Soil Fungi on Take-All of Wheat

Abstract

Of 41 soil fungi isolated from the roots of wheat 17 reduced the severity of take-all of wheat caused by Gaeomannomyces graminis var. tritici in unsterile yellow sand. Some isolates showing potential as biocontrol agents were tested in unsterile wheat-field soil. In such tests Phialophora fastigiata, P. malorum, P. hoffmanniiM and Penicillium patulam gave significant protection against take-all, but the best control was given by three species of Fusarium. The plants exposed to F. oxysporum and the take-all pathogen together produced shoots significantly more vigorous than uninoculated controls receiving no fungi. F. oxysporum also significantly increased the shoot weight of wheat in the absence of the pathogen.