PATHOGENIC AND NON-PATHOGENIC FUNGI ISOLATED FROM SOIL AND ROOTS OF TOBACCO

Abstract

The study investigated the isolation of soil borne pathogenic fungi from soil and root samples of tobacco crop. A Soil dilution plate technique was used for isolation of fungi on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) media. Identification and characterization was done with the help of authentic manuals of fungi. A total 10 genera were isolated and identified which were parasitic, saprophytic and free-living fungi including pathogenic species Alternaria alternata, Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizoctonia solani, Phytophthora nicotianae and Trichoderma harzianum a free-living fungus. Incidence of Phytophthora nicotianae and Rhizoctonia solani was only seen in root and soil samples respectively whereas Alternaria alternata, Fusarium oxysporum and Trichoderma harzianum were found in both root and soil samples. Other isolated soil borne fungi included Aspergillus, Chaetomium, Geotrichum, Mucor and Penicillium. Occurrence of all these pathogenic fungi from root and soil samples was also calculated.