EVALUATION OF FUSARIUM-OXYSPORUM AS A POTENTIAL BIOHERBICIDE FOR SICKLEPOD (CASSIA-OBTUSIFOLIA), COFFEE SENNA (C-OCCIDENTALIS), AND HEMP SESBANIA (SESBANIA-EXALTATA)

A strain of Fusarium oxysporum was isolated from infected sicklepod st ems in Stoneville, MS, in 1989. When formulated as granules either in a fungus-infested rice preparation or encapsulated in a wheat-gluten m atrix called 'Pesta', biocontrol of sicklepod, coffee senna, and hemp sesbania was achieved with preemergence or preplant-incorporated treat ments. Liquid conidial applications were less effective. Plants were k illed by a preemergence damping-off. Applications made postemergence w ere significantly less effective. Results of these tests suggest that this fungus has potential as a mycoherbicide for controlling sicklepod , coffee senna, and hemp sesbania.