Isolation, Purification and Identification of Fungi Associated with Cowpea Seeds, Vigna unguiculata (L.) and the Possibility of Their Resistance Using Some Biological Techniques

Background and Objective: Cowpeas are cultivated to obtain their green pods, which are used as food for humans. The plants are used as green fertilizers to improve soil qualities and increase fertility. The aim of the study was to assess the biological fungus efficiency of T. harzianum in inhibiting the fungus R. solani in the culturing medium. The test of two types of cowpea seeds, which are white and red cowpeas, referred to the existence of five genera of fungi. Materials and Methods: The pathogenicity of the isolated fungi from the seeds of two types of cowpea was tested. After hardening, a disc of 1 cm diameter was planted in the center of the dish from each fungus separately and that was from the edge of pure farms aged five days and with three replications for each, then the dishes were incubated. Results: The percentage of germination reached 10% in the treatment of (Rhizoctani solani), the treatment of (Aspergillus niger) was 33.3%, while the fungus Alternaria alternate had the least effect on the germination of (Calendula seeds). The percentage of germination was 60% compared to the control treatment, in which the percentage of germination of (Calendula seeds) was 90%. Conclusion: The test of the biological fungus efficiency of Trichoderma harzianum in inhibiting the fungus Rhizoctonia solani in the culturing medium showed a high antagonism degree, where the degree of antagonism reached 1, while the biological fungus efficiency of Trichoderma harzianum was less antagonistic strength for both fungi Aspergillus niger and Penicillium sp.