Water hyacinth, Biological control, Fusarium oxysporum, Alternaria alternata, Curvularia lunata
Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is one of the most predominant, persistent and troublesome aquatic weeds. Periodical surveys of various water bodies in and around Jabalpur were under taken with the objective to isolate and evaluate the indigenous strains of fungal pathogens as myco-herbicides to manage water hyacinth. Three fungal pathogens, viz., Fusarium oxysporum, Curvularia lunata and Alternaria alternata were isolated. Efficacy studies of the pathogens were done by inoculating water hyacinth plants, either directly or after creating wounds. Artificial injury created in the plants by pin pricks before inoculation of the pathogens aided in the entry of the pathogens there by resulting in the better infection of the plants. Among the three pathogens, Fusarium oxysporum was found to be the best resulting in the killing of inoculated water hyacinth in about 15 days.