Vermicompost as modulator of plant growth and disease suppression.

Vermicompost (VC) is a rich source of macro- and micro-nutrients and is used to enliven soils. It is mostly considered as an efficient supplement of organic matter to soils and horticultural container media low in organic content. Recently VC has also been explored extensively for its various other useful activities especially its role in enhancing plant growth promoting effect as well as in suppression of plant diseases by various mechanisms. VC is considered superior to conventional compost especially for substitution of soils or greenhouse container media for its ability to modify soil properties in a better way. The role of VC in plant growth promotion is largely believed to be due to its nutrient rich composition as well as its ability to modify soil physical and chemical properties suitably in a way to favor plant growth and development. Among its role in suppression of plant pathogens and nematodes, it is believed that it modulates a plant’s innate resistance response to resist microbial attack. Apart from this, VC-mediated soil physicochemical properties also favors growth and multiplication of saprophytic soil microbes including the biocontrol agents and thus helps in enhancing performance of most biocontrol agents against a wide range of phytopathogens. VC prepared from various sources and methods have also been identified to playing different roles in promoting plant growth and achieving biological management of phytopathogens. In the present review various roles and mechanisms of VC as plant growth regulator and disease suppressor unearthed recently are discussed.

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