Two hundred isolates representing 31 fungal species (20 genera) were recovered from soybean roots. Samples were collected from 12 localities at 3 different growth stages of the crop. The most dominant species were Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani (Nectria haematococca), Macrophomina phaseolina and Rhizoctonia solani. Pathogenicity tests have proved the ability of Macrophomina phaseolina and Rhizoctonia solani to infect soybean roots and produce the symptoms of damping-off and root-rot diseases.The efficacy of three antagonists (Trichodermaharzianum, Epicoccum nigrum and Paecilomyceslilacinus) as well as two organic compounds (Strom and F-760) was evaluated as to their control of pathogenic fungi . Biocontrol fungi significantly suppressed Macrophominaphaseolina and Rhizoctonia solani in vitro and in vivo. Epicoccum nigrum and Paecilomyces lilacinus suppressed the growth of the pathogens by producing an inhibition zone while Trichoderma harzianum suppressed them by overgrowing. Strom and F-760 showed lower reduction effect of diseases in comparison with the antagonists.
Hashem M. (2004): Biological control of two phytopathogenic fungal species isolated from the rhizoplane of soybean (Glycine max). – Czech Mycology 56(3-4): 223–238.
