Antifungal efficacy of Azotobacter nigricans on Fusarium infection, total seedlings mass, root and shoot length, and seed germination in maize, sorghum, and wheat were investigated. Antifungal efficacy of A. nigricans against Fusarium sporotrichioides, Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium poae and Fusarium equiseti showed a significant reduction in growth and Fusarium infection incidence (up to 50%) in all the three treated cereals. However, challenge inoculation of Fusarium spp. to the three cereals showed 100% infection incidence. Total mass of the maize seedlings increased two fold by A. nigricans treatment; however, only a slight increase was observed in sorghum and wheat seedlings. The highest vigour index recorded in maize was 1321 against Fusarium crookwellense, 1616.71 against Fusarium sporotrichioides in sorghum, and 1584.8 against Fusarium acuminatum in wheat treated with A. nigricans. Highest germination incidence of 64% was in maize, 67% in sorghum, and 56% in wheat treated with A. nigricans.
Keywords: Azotobacter; Fusarium; biocontrol; cereals; trichothecene.