Vol. 10, Issue 6 (2021)

Author(s):
M Debbarma, T Rajesh, RK Tombisana Devi, D Thakuria, NS Azad Thakur, OD Nongthombam and M Hajong

Abstract:
There has been a resurgence of interest in the quest for Plant growth-promoting fungus (PGPF) for sustainable crop production in recent years. PGPF are heterogeneous collection of nonpathogenic fungi that are connected with plant and mediate improvements in plant development and health. In agriculture, the usage of PGPF is constantly expanding, and it offers an appealing alternative to chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The queen of cereals, maize is one of the most important cereal crop, and it is susceptible to a variety of fungal, viral and bacterial pathogens. Through extensive surveys conducted in different maize growing areas of Meghalaya, soil samples were collected from maize rhizosphere region from eight (8) districts viz., Ri-bhoi, West Garo Hills, North Garo hills, West Khasi Hills, West Jaintia hills, South West Garo Hills, East Khasi Hills and East Jaintia Hills. A total of fourty (40) fungi were isolated and recovered from rhizospheric soil by serial dilution method, of which majority of fungal isolates belonged to the genus Trichoderma sp., followed by Penicillium sp., Aspergillus sp, Phoma sp., Fusarium sp., Aspergillus sp., Chaetomium sp., Metarhium sp. and Acremonium sp. Further, these fourty (40) isolates were identified based on morphological characters. Further research can be done to find the antagonistic capability of rhizospheric fungus against the major fungal diseases of maize.