Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2017

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2017 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Improved mycoherbicidal activity of Fusarium arthrosporioides

Olubukola O. Babalola

Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology, North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 5 July, 2017

Abstract

Fusarium arthrosporioides plus cellulase was evaluated on tomato root systems to ascertain whether cellulase, a cell wall degrading enzyme, could accelerate fungus infection of Orobanche aegyptiaca tubercles. Chopped mycelia alone (1.3 × 10⁶ and 5.4 × 10⁶ propagules ml^-1) killed 17 and 37% of Orobanche tubercles, respectively while in the presence of cellulase (10 Uml^-1) Orobanche tubercles mortality increased to 37 and 78%. Cellulase treatment alone was ineffective. Only a hypersensitive reaction (9% death) resulted in the absence of cellulase. The findings add to the commercial value of F. arthrosporioides as a potential mycoherbicide when sufficiently virulent.