Evaluation of certain antagonistic fungal species for biological control of faba bean wilt disease incited by Fusarium oxysporum

Fusarium wilt incited by Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht. causes a remarkable economic losses in faba bean (Vicia faba L.) growing areas. In this study, fourteen isolates of F. oxysporum were isolated from the diseased faba bean plants, showing wilt symptoms, obtained from different localities in Assiut governorate. The isolates proved to be pathogenic on Masr-1 faba bean cultivar under greenhouse conditions. The effectiveness of five antagonistic fungal species (Trichoderma harzianum Rifai., Trichoderma viride Pers., Gliocladium roseum Bainier, Gliocladium catenulatum Gilman & Abbott and Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in growth inhibition of the pathogen in vitro as well as controlling the disease in greenhouse were evaluated. All tested antagonistic fungi were able to inhibit the growth of F. oxysporum in dual culture, significantly, as compared with control. Results also indicate that F. oxysporum suppressed strongly by coating seeds of faba bean by T. harzianum, T. viride, G. roseum, G. catenulatum and S. cerevisiae before sowing in the soil. Furthermore, the lowest percentages of Fusarium wilt severity were recorded by T. viride and G. roseum which reduced disease incidence to 22.25 % and 25.25% respectively, compared with 75.50 % in untreated seeds. It could be suggested that such antagonistic fungal species might be promising as alternatives for controlling faba bean wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum