Bio-enhancing seeds and seedlings against damping-off pathogens in vegetable seedlings

摘要

The use of synthetic pesticides in the vegetable crops has become a major challenge to farmers in the tropics.However, the information on the utilization of bio-control agents is still limited.Three microorganism-based formulations including Bacillus subtilis, Metarhizium anisophilae and Trichoderma asperillum were evaluated for their effects on pest of maize, tomato and eggplant seedlings in greenhouse and field conditions.The efficacy of the bio-pesticide was assessed against damping-off diseases caused by Pythium and Rhizoctonia and the control of cutworms that affect maize at the seedling emergence stage.In the greenhouse, high disease pressure was simulated by inoculating the growing media before seeds were sown.