Biocontrol Science and Technology (2009) 19, 835-841

Rakshapal Singh, T.N. Parameswaran, E.V.S. Prakasa Rao, K. Puttanna, Alok Kalra, K.V.N.S. Srinivas, D.J. Bagyaraj and S. Divya (2009)
Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Pseudomonas fluorescens on root-rot and wilt, growth and yield of Coleus forskohlii
Biocontrol Science and Technology 19 (8), 835-841
Abstract: Root-rot and wilt caused by Fusarium chlamydosporum affects the cultivation of Coleus forskohlii, a medicinal plant grown for its roots, which contain a pharmaceutically important compound called forskolin. In this study, management of this disease under low and high inoculum levels was assessed with four arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and a strain of Pseudomonas fluorescens. The AM fungus Glomus fasciculatum and P. fluorescens were the most effective treatments that reduced the severity of root-rot and wilt of C. forskohlii by 56-65% and 61-66%, respectively, under lower and higher levels of pathogen F. chlamydosporum. G. fasciculatum increased the dry shoot and root weight by 108-241% and 92-204%, respectively, while in plants treated with P. fluorescens, an increase of 97-223% and 97-172% in dry shoot and root weight, respectively, was observed. Although P. fluorescens was effective, it gave higher root yields only under lower inoculum level of the pathogen. G. fasciculatum performed equally well under both lower and higher inoculum levels. Increase in yields with both the biocontrol agents was accompanied by increase in P uptake (230-303%) and in K uptake (270-335%). The forskolin content of the roots was significantly increased (14-21%) by G. fasciculatum, P. fluorescens or G. mosseae under lower inoculum level of pathogen.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Alok Kalra

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
evaluation - screening - selection

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Fusarium chlamydosporum	Coleus (crop)	India
Pseudomonas fluorescens (antagonist)	Fusarium chlamydosporum	Coleus (crop)	India
Rhizoglomus fasciculatum (antagonist)	Fusarium chlamydosporum	Coleus (crop)	India