Abstract

Trianthema portulacastrum Linn. is a weed plant of Aizoaceae (Fig marigold family). It is indigenous to South Africa but widely distributed in India, Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) and tropical and subtropical areas as a noxious weed. The mycoflora namely Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler., Colletotrichum capsici (Syd.) E.J. Butler & Bisby., Bipolaris maydis (Y.Nisik. & C.Miyake) Shoemaker., Curvularia lunata (Wakker) Boedijin., Curvularia tuberculata Sivan. and Gibbago trianthemae E.G. Simmons was isolated from highly infected portions of the weed. The pathogenicity of various fungal species was confirmed by Koch’s postulates. The host specificity of the isolates of horse purslane was tested on green house plants by spore treatment. Among the isolates, Gibbago trianthemae was highly aggressive to weed and it was considered as potential biocontrol agent (Mycoherbicidal agent) against horse purslane weed.

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