RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RHIZOSPHERIC MICROFLORA AND FUNGI CAUSING SOME ROOT DISEASES OF GERANIUM PLANTS

Abstract

Geranium is one of the most important medicinal plants grown in Egypt. This plant is usually severaly affected by wilt and root rot diseases. The present work was conducted as a trial for the biological control of these diseases to lower the deleterious effects of fungicides. The work started by the isolation of causal organisms which were found to be Fusarium oxyspomm, F. solani, Rhizoctonia so/ani and Macrophomina phaseolina. Inoculation each of these pathogens in soil deleteriously affected counts and activity of some important microbial groups in the rhizosphere.