Phylloplane Mycoflora as Antagonist to Alternaria alternata causing leaf spot of Stevia rebaudiana

Reshu Chauhan; Dr. Navneet

Volume : IV, Issue : II, February - 2015

Phylloplane Mycoflora as Antagonist to Alternaria alternata causing leaf spot of Stevia rebaudiana

Reshu Chauhan, Dr. Navneet

Abstract :

Leaf spot disease (Alternaria alternata) is one of most yield limiting constraints of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni. The objective of this study was to isolate and evaluate antagonistic potential of phylloplane fungi against the pathogen in controlling the leaf spot disease. Qualitative studies on mycoflora showed the presence of 20 fungi belonging to 11 genera with sterile form and pink yeast. Interaction of pathogen with phylloplane fungi was determined by dual culture. Penicillium expansum caused maximum inhibition (75.11%) of test pathogen followed by Trichophyton sp. (71.15%), Aspergillus niger (65.96%), A. awamori (53.57%), A. flavus (48.0%), Penicillium purpurogenum (47.50%), Cladosporium cladosporioides (43.48%), Penicillium cyclopium (40.90%), Periconiella sp. (36.74%), Aspergillus sp. (36.21%), A. fumigatus (33.33%), Curvularia lunata (33%), Penicillium oxalicum (30.08%), P. notatum (26.0%) and Sporothrix sp. (20.83%). Best antagonistic fungi can be used as possible biocontrol agents.