Biological Control of Tomato Root Pathogens with Fungal and Bacterial Antagonists

Soil-borne pathogens are important in the context of Indian agriculture as they cause high crop yield losses. An investigation was carried out to screen the different fungal and bacterial antagonists to inhibit the growth of tomato root pathogens. Among the eleven antagonists tested, T. viride and P. flourescens strains were found to be effective against S. rolfsii, R. solani and F. oxysporum. Similarly, among ten bacterial and fungal antagonists, P. fluorescens and B. subtilis strains were found superior in suppressing the growth of R. solancearum.