In-Vitro Antagonistic Activity of Plant Extract on Fusarium Species

Plant protection is an important area which needs attention since most of the hazardous inputs added into the agricultural system are in the form of plant protection chemicals. Botanicals possess a variety of promising properties which make it a better biocontrol agent. The objectives of the present study were to isolate Fusarium sp. from soil and to check the effect of botanicals against this fungal pathogen in-vitro. The antagonistic activity of botanicals was studied by co-inoculation with the Fusarium sp. isolated from rhizosphere soil. In poison food technique, the botanicals in different concentration, showed decrease in the growth of the fungal pathogen. Maximum inhibition was observed in 10% Azadiracta sp. with 64% inhibition followed by 5% Azadiracta sp. with 57.8

Earthworm Population in Relation to Different Agro Climatic Regions of Wayanad District of Kerala

Among the numerous microorganisms in the soil, earthworms play an important role in the formation and maintenance of soil structure and fertility by altering the physical, chemical and biological properties. A study was conducted in Wayanad district during 2017 to 2018 to collect and identify the earthworm species present in three agro climatic regions of Wayanad. A total of 30 samples were collected from Wetland, upland and an evergreen forest. A total of 15 earth worm species were identified and among this two species were new to Wayanad, the Dravida thomasi and Amynthas corticis