Effect of Antagonists in Combination with Carbendazim Against Macrophomina phaseolina Infection in Cowpea

Pelleting of cowpea seeds with Trichoderma viride Pers: fr. either alone or in combination with carbendazimm inhibited the growth of Macrophomina phaseolina Tassi (Gold.) in vitro. The treatment increased the germination and reduced the post emergence mortality under pot culture conditions. Carbendazim did not show any adverse effect on the antagonists T. viride and T. harzianum Rifal under in vitro and also in pot culture studies. Seed pelleting with carbendazim in combination with antagoinst reduced the seedling mortality besides enhancing the growth characteristics like shoot length, ischolar_main length and dry matter production.