EFFECT OF SARGASSUM SEAWEED AND MICROBIAL ANTAGONISTS IN THE CONTROL OF ROOT-ROT DISEASE OF SUNFLOWER

Seaweed viz., Sargassum tenerrumum, S.swartzii and S. wightii bused as soil amendment alone or with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bradyrhizobium j aponicum and Paecilomyces lilacinus significantly (p<0.05) reduced inf ection of Macrophomina phaseolina and Fusarium solani on sunflower. Se aweeds were found less effective or increased Rhizoctonia solani infec tion. Combined use of seaweed with P.lilacinus and B.japonicum showed better results against M.phaseolina and F.solani than their separate u se. Greater plant height was produced where P.aeruginosa was used with S.swartzii. Use of P.aeruginosa with S.tenerrumum and P.lilacinus wit h S.swartzii produced greater fresh weight of shoot than other treatme nts.