Biological control of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis causing muskmelon wilt

Five different antagonists viz. Aspergillus niger, fluorescent Pseudomonas, non-pathogenic Fusarium oxysporum, Trichodenna harzianum and T. viride were evaluated as seed treatment against Fusarium wilt of muskmelon caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis. All the antagonists showed rhizosphere competence and reduced the number of colony forming units of F. oxysporum f. sp. melonis. Non-pathogenic F. oxysporum and T. harzianum were the most effective in reducing the wilt incidence by 77.2 and 74.5 per cent and pathogen population by 54.5 and 53.8 per cent, respectively at 30 days after sowing. Seed treatment with antagonists resulted in increased peroxidase levels in roots of plants.