Use of biocontrol agents for seed priming against Macrophomina phaseolina and their effect on seed quality were evaluated. Seed transmission was found to be high in discoloured seeds (7.6%). It was 5.5% under unsterilized condition as compared to 2.5% in sterilized seeds. In all the localities, greater infection was noticed in TMV-l than TMV-2 and TMV-7. M. phaseolina infection was observed on seed coat and cotyledon. All the Trichoderma spp. including T viride (Tv-4 & Tv-6); T harzianum (Th-1 & Th-5), T hamatum; T longibrachiatum; T koningii and T pseudokoningii inhibited the pathogen growth significantly and the maximum antagonistic activity was shown by T. harzianum-5. Seed pelleting with Trichoderma spp. protected seeds from M. phaseolina infection and maximum reduction of infection (79.6%) was also shown by T harzianum-5. It also improved seedling vigour, dry matter production and prevented loss of oil content up to six months of storage.
Arachis hypogaea, Macrophomina phaseolina, Seed priming, Trichoderma spp
