Influence of dual inoculation with vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza (Glomus aggregatum) and fusarium udum on plant vigour and wilt disease incidence of pigeonpea

Abstract

Direct dual inoculation using vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungus (Glomus agregatum) and soil borne pathogen Fusarium udum was studied on the growth and biological suppression of wilt disease development in pigeonpea by setting up a pot culture experiment using phosphorus deficient soil. The percent root colonization by VAM fungus was slightly increased in plants treated with dual inoculum as compared to that of plants treated with VAM fungus alone. A significant increase in plant height and dry matter production was found in plants with VAM fungus association when compared to plants growing in Fusarium alone inoculated pots. This increase was found to be more pronounced in dual system. VAM association in plants had a detrimental influence on the incidence of wilt disease as compared to plants infected with F. udum.