Evaluation of non-pathogenic Fusarium for antagonistic activity against Fusarium wilt of tomato

Fusarium spp. isolated from rhizosphere soils of tomato from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat states of India were tested for their pathogenicity. Among these isolates, six were found non-pathogenic to tomato, red gram, bengal gram, groundnut, red pepper, water melon, castor and banana. These non-pathogenic isolates protected tomato plants when co-inoculated with pathogen isolate under pot culture conditions. Treatment with non-pathogenic Fusarium isolates improved the plant growth parameters (length and weight of root and shoot). These non-pathogenic Fusarium isolates can be exploited for the biocontrol of wilt disease.