Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Evaluation of Epicoccum purpurascens as biological control agent of Echinochloa spp. in rice fields

Author(s):

Mohammad Reza Safari Motlagh

Recieved Date: 2010-09-23, Accepted Date: 2011-01-20

Abstract:

Echinochloa spp. are among the most important weeds of rice. Fungal pathogens can be exploited as biological agents for the management of agricultural weeds. The pathogenic fungal species were isolated from naturally infected Echinochloa species and identified. In order to isolate the fungus from disease tissues the obtained samples were cultured on potato dextrose agar medium. Isolates were cultured due to sporulation on water agar medium. Morphological characters of isolates were studied in order to identify the taxonomy. According to the results, isolates belonged to Epicoccum purpurascens Ehrenb. Pathogenicity test of isolates was done in desiccators and revealed the pathogenicity of this fungus and its ability to cause leaf blight on Echinochloa spp. Inoculation was done using a spore suspension consisting of 10⁵ spore/ml distilled water and 1% Tween-20 at the 2-3 leaf stage. Also, seeds germination inhibition test was done. The results indicated that the disease rating caused by Epicoccum purpurascensin Echinochloa spp. was higher than that observed in the studied rice cultivar. Moreover, the results showed that seed germination of Echinochloaspp. was affected by E. purpurascens and significant reduction was observed in treatments in comparison with controls. Hence E. purpurascens can be considered as a probable bioherbicide for control of Echinochloa species at early stages of weed growth.

Keywords:

Echinochloa spp., Epicoccum purpurascens, fungi, biological control

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2011
Volume: 9
Issue: 1
Category: Agriculture
Pages: 394-397

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