Division of Plant Pathology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi110012, India.
Chaetomium globosum Kunze has been identified as a potential antagonist of number of plant diseases. In order to mass multiply this biocontrol agent, different nutritional requirements i.e. nitrogen, carbon, vitamin, pH and temperature need to be studied. The potential strain (Cg2) was grown in basal medium amended with various carbon, nitrogen sources, vitamins and at different pH and temperature conditions. The nitrogen source, which gave the maximum growth of isolate Cg2 was found to be casamino acid, yielding 287.9 mg dry mycelial weight. Maximum dry mycelial weight was obtained when sucrose @40 g/l was used as carbon source. The fungus grew well in the presence of thiamine at 100 mg/l, showing 533.7 mg dry weight. The overall results revealed that sucrose as carbon source @40 g/l, casamino acid as nitrogen source @10 g/l, vitamin, thiamine @ 100 mg/l supported maximum growth of the fungus. The pH 5.0 and temperature 28°C supported the maximum growth and sporulation of the fungus (938.4 mg of dry weight).
Mass multiplication, nutritional requirement, Chaetomium globosum
