Exploring the Biocompatibility and Antifungal Activity of Different Biopolymeric Derivatives Against Foliar Pathogens

This study aims to investigate the compatibility of biopolymeric derivatives with the biocontrol agents and its antifungal activity against fungi plant pathogens. In vitro studies have been carried out by using completely randomized design. This study was conducted at Plant Pathology Division, ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad, India, during March to April 2023. Different combinations of treatments were prepared using lignin derivative (LD). Compatibility of LD with Trichoderma harzianum Th4d was tested using poison food technique and data was recoded at 4 and 7 days after inoculation. Antifungal activity of lignin derivatives against foliar pathogens namely Phaeoisariopsis personata causing leaf spot of groundnut and Golovinomyces cichoracearum causing powdery mildew of sunflower was assessed using spore germination technique. Data was recorded at 24 and 48 hours after incubation. Significant difference was observed among the treatments with respect to mycelial growth of Trichoderma harzianum Th4d. LD+chitosan exhibited 100% compatibility with full growth of T. harzianum. Further, LD+chitosan+Th4d at the concentration of 0.10% significantly inhibited the spore germination of P. personata and G. cichoracearum with per cent germination inhibition of 87.53 and 93.27%, respectively. Results suggests that lignin derivative integration with other biopolymers and biocontrol agents can be effectively used for the management of foliar plant pathogens.