Interaction between Glomus fasciculatum and Sclerotium rolfsii in peanut

Abstract

The interaction between the mycorrhizal fungus Glomus fasciculatum and the root pathogen Sclerotium rolfsii was studied in a pot culture experiment. The mycorrhizal fungus reduced the number of sclerotia produced by the pathogen and the pathogen reduced the percentage root infection and chlamydospore production by the mycorrhizal fungus. Root and shoot dry weights of the host and their P content was highest in plants inoculated with mycorrhiza only and lowest in plants inoculated with the pathogen only. Simultaneous addition of mycorrhizal inoculum and the pathogen reduced the severity of disease.