BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF RHIZOCTONIA ROOT ROT OF WHEAT WITH BINUCLEATE RHIZOCTONIA FUNGI

The current study was conducted to identify the effect of six non-pathogen binucleate Rhizoctonia (BNR) anastomosis groups (AG A, AG C, AG E, AG G, AG H and AG I) as a biological control agent against Rhizoctonia spp. causing root rot and stunting in Central Anatolian wheat fields in Turkey. The pathogen isolates represented anastomosis groups R. solani AG 4 HG II, AG 5, AG 8, R. cerealis AG D I, Waitea circinata var. circinata, Waitea circinata var. zeae. All six BNR isolates, when combined with AG 4, AG 8, R. cerealis AG D, W. cir. var. circinata and W. cir. var zeae, saw a greater reduction in disease severity when compared to the effect of the isolates alone. It was also detected that three of the six BNR isolates (AG H, AG E and AG C) significantly suppressed disease on wheat caused by R. solani AG 5 in greenhouse conditions and Rhizoctonia AG H provided a high degree of protection against all pathogen groups. These BNR isolates may have potential use in the management of the pathogen Rhizoctonia anastomosis groups on wheat, but will require rigorous testing under field conditions.