Biological control of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] root-rot caused by Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi.) Goid. by bacterial and fungal antagonists

Seven bacterial isolates (four of Psendomonas fluorescens and three of Bacillus subtilis) and seven isolates of fungal antagonists (six of Trichoderma spp, and one of Lentinns spp.) were tested for their ability to inhibit cowpea root-rot pathogen, Macrophomina phaseolina under both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Among the bacterial antagonists, P. fluorescein charvae isolate recorded a maximum inhibition of mycelial growth of the pathogen followed by P. fluorescens isolate 2, whereas in fungal antagonists, T. koningii recorded a maximum inhibition followed by L. edodes and T. viride isolate 4. Pot-culture evaluation, under greenhouse conditions using P. fluorescens cliarvae, T. koningii and L. edodes revealed talc based powder formulation of P. fluorescens cliarvae and T. koningii was found to be the best in controlling root-rot incidence of cowpea.