LAUSR

Wilting and damping off disease caused by Verticillium sp. and Phytophthora sp. are some of the common diseases that occur in Solanum melongena L. ( S. melongena L.) plants. Piriformospora indica has the ability to colonize broad host spectrum and offers resistance to various plant pathogens. Hence the present study was undertaken to investigate the effectiveness of Piriformospora indica as a biocontrol agent against Verticillium sp . and Phytophthora sp. infected Solanum melongena L. grown under greenhouse conditions. Solanum melongena L. plants colonized by Piriformospora indica significantly showed lesser disease incidence/ severity caused by Verticillium and Phytophthora . Accumulation of proline and defense enzymes such as peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase was found to be high with Piriformospora indica colonized Solanum melongena L. plants. Unlike arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi, Piriformospora indica can be easily cultivated on synthetic media and thus can be exploited to reduce disease resistance with increase crop productivity.