Biological control of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) rust (Puccinia arachidis Speg.) in India

Abstract

The effects of the mycoparasites, Acremonium persicinum, Eudarluca caricls, Penicillium islandicum. Tuberculina costaricana and Verticillium lecanii and their culture filtrates on in vitro germination and in vivo development of Puccinia arachidis were studied under laboratory and field conditions. All the mycoparasites and their culture filtrates inhibited urediniospore germination and reduced rust development by varying degrees. Maximum inhibition of in vitro germination of urediniospores and significant reduction in in vivo development of rust was exhibited by V. lecanii and P. islandicum and their culture filtrates. The inoculation of mycoparasites and rust on the same day gave better control of rust. Sprays of culture filtrates of V. lecanii and P. islandicum significantly reduced rust disease under field conditions.

Keywords:

• biological control
• groundnut rust
• India