ISSN 2756-3251
Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology ISSN 7675-1686 Vol. 2 (6), pp. 001-003, June, 2011. © International Scholars Journals
Short Communication
Pathogenic diversity of Sclerotium rolfsii isolates, a potential biocontrol agent against Parthenium hysterophorus L.
Rekha Shukla and A. K. Pandey*
Mycological Research Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, R. D University, Jabalpur-482001, (M.P), India.
Accepted 16 March, 2011
Abstract
Parthenium hysterophorus L. is a wide-spread weed creating problems for agriculture and public health. Microbes and their by products is now proved to be a worthy alternative to toxic chemicals used for weed management. We determined the relative pathogenicity of ten Sclerotium rolfsii isolates recovered from diseased parts of Parthenium collected during a survey of various habitats in Central India. There was a considerable diversity amongst various isolates. The isolate designated Par # 02 from Jabalpur showed the maximum disease incidence (80%) whereas isolate Par#10 also from Jabalpur showed the lowest infection rate against targeted hosts (30%). The wide range of pathogenicity among S. rolfsii support the view that strain breeding for biological control of P. hysterophorus L. is warranted.
Key words: Parthenium hysterophorus, variability, pathogenicity, Sclerotium rolfsii.