Formulations as biocontrol and role of pectinase and cellulose in pathogenicity

Abstract

The eight virulent strains of Fusarium oxysporum which cause wilt pepper disease were screened for their abilities to produce pectinase and cellulase enzymes. F. oxysporum AUMC 11424, which was the most virulent strain, gave the highest activity of pectinase and cellulase therefore, which showed a positive correlation between the disease severity and both pectinase and cellulase enzymes. Moreover, the carrier formulations of antagonistic fungi (talc-based powder and rice-bran) were tested under greenhouse and field conditions and, the results revealed that the formulations of P. oxalicum AUMC 11419, A. verrucaria AUMC 11414, C. rosea AUMC 11442 and T. harzianum AUMC 11422 showed a highly reduction of disease severity (up to 80%).