Antagonistic Potential of Some Biocontrol Agents Against Damping-off in Tobacco

Three bio-inoculants (Glomus intraradices, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus circulans) were evaluated for their antagonism against Pythium aphanidermatum causing damping-off disease in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L) in seed beds. Seed inoculation of P. fluorescens and G. intraradices resulted in much less number of disease affected seedlings viz., 24.33 and 21.33/m² of seed bed, respectively and was on par with the fungicide (mancozeb + metalaxyl) check showing 24.00/m². There was also significant reduction of infected seedlings due to the soil application of bio-inoculants viz., G. intraradices and P. fluorescens. However, foliar sprays of bio-inoculants failed to protect the seed beds against the pathogen and were on par with the control.