Influence of Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) on drought tolerance and charcoal rot disease of cowpea

Abstract

The influence of Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) (<i>Glomus deserticola</i> and <i>Gigaspora gigantea)</i> were evaluated on drought tolerance and charcoal rot disease of cowpea genotypes: IT90K-277-2, IT84S-2246-4 and IT06K123-1. IT90K-277-2 and IT84S-2246-4 were sown in 3 kg of sterilized soil for drought experiment with five treatments. Treatment was established thirty days after germination with inoculation of <i>G. deserticola</i>, the mycorrhizal treated cowpea withstand the water stress and produced high yield. Biocontrol experiment had 2 kg sterilized soil potted into bags with cultivars IT90K-277-2 and IT06K123-1, fourteen treatments were established with soil drenched before planting and simultaneous inoculation. Soil drenched with AMF before planting and inoculation of <i>M. phaseolina</i> after 10 days of germination recorded higher growth parameters, while the simultaneous inoculated plant was the most effective in reducing disease severity. However, simultaneous treatment of <i>G. deserticola</i>, <i>G. gigantea</i> and <i>M. phaseolina</i> were most effective for both growth parameters and reduction of disease severity.