Antagonistic Activity of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Against Phytopathogenic Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Schlecht.) as a Biological Control

Abstract

The search for the most effective, organic, biological control against fungal-related diseases of economically-important crops such as in banana is still being encouraged in the Philippines. This study compared the antagonistic activity of beneficial endophytic fungi, T. viride and entomopathogenic fungi, M. anisopliae against F. oxysporum (causative agent of Banana Wilt disease) using dual culture method for 10 days incubation period. The study employed Complete Randomized Design (T1= T. viride vs. F. oxysporum; T2= M. anisopliae vs. F. oxysporum; and control plate = F. oxysporum alone) in five replications. Radial growth and percent inhibition of radial growth (PIRG), as well as Bell rating across treatment groups, were analyzed using ANOVA (p<0.05) and T-test (p ≤0.05), respectively. Results showed that both biological control fungi (T. viride and M. anisopliae) manifested antagonistic activity against F. oxysporum, where T. viride registered stronger inhibition (PIRG=72.37%; Bell Rating=2) than M. anisopliae (PIRG=31.27%; Bell Rating=3). The superior antagonistic action of T. viride and M. anisopliae against F. oxysporum may be attributed to their production of hydrolytic enzymes which facilitated growth inhibition of F. oxysporum. To observe stable antagonistic interaction among these fungi, future studies may consider longer ncubation period as well as in vivo field trial on infected banana crops.