In-vitro Evaluation of Fungal and Bacterial Antagonists against Fungal Pathogens Causing Damping off in forest Nurseries

Damping off in forest nurseries is one of the most serious and widely spread diseases throughout the world. Sometimes it causes more than 90 percent seedling mortality under favourable conditions. Four biocontrol agents were evaluated against the 12 pathogenic fungi under laboratory conditions by following dual culture plate technique. Both the fungal biocontrol agents checked more than 50 percent growth of all the pathogens. Pseudomonas fluorescens was more effective than Bacillus subtilis. However, B. subtilis effectively controlled the growth of R. solani and F. moniliforme.