Biocontrol of seedling blight disease of Corchorus olitorius (Jute) using some fungal and bacterial species isolated from poultry droppings and goat dung.

Abstract

Compost-inhabiting microorganism were studied for their effect on seedling blight inducing microbes on Corchorus olitorius. The fungal and bacterial species were isolated using pour plate and serial dilutin method respectively and identified based on their morphological/biochemical characteristics. Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Bacillus cereus and Mucor were the microbes found associated with goat dung and poultry droppings compost. The population of compost inhibiting microbes was found to be higher in goat dung 6.5 × 105 cfu/g compared to poultry dropping 4.5×105 cfu/g. Aspergillus fumigatus. Penicilium notatum, Penicilium chrysogenium and Trychophytum rubrum induced by A.flavus ranges between 10.5± 0.11 to 17.5 ± 0.20mm, while Bacilus cereus has the highest zone of inhibition which ranges from 20.7± 1.77 to 16.5 ± 1.13mm. The inhibitory activities of the compost-inhabiting microbes might partly be responsible for the efficacy of compost in reducing seedling blight diseases in Corchorus olitorus. Goat dung and poultry droppings compost-inhabiting microbes had inhibitory effects on the seedling and hence can be employed as a biocontrol agent against seedling blight disease.