<i>In vitro</i> screening of foliar pathogens for biological control of Horse Purslane weed

Abstract

<i>Trianthema portulacastrum </i> L. (Horse Purslane), is a common noxious weed of crop fields <i>viz</i>. pulses, cotton, sugarcane, rice, maize, etc., and chemical pesticides used to control this weed affect the environmental adversely. Here, we conducted a systematic field study for screening natural enemies of the weed as biocontrol agents. A foliar fungal pathogen <i>Gibbago trianthemae</i> Simmons was isolated from parasitized leaves and characterised by means of taxonomic features. The virulence and host specificity of the isolate were tested <i>in vitro </i> and the mycoherbicidal potential against Horse Purslane was recorded. The deleterious effects of <i>G. trianthemae</i> by means of spore inoculum were examined on host weed which leads to the development of leaf spot disease. The huge number of green house plants was controlled (98% at 50 days after spore treatment) by the infection and spread of leaf spot disease caused by <i>G. trianthemae</i>. Results of this study recommend the fungal species <i>G. trianthemae</i> as a potential mycoherbicidal candidate for the management of Horse Purslane.