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Due to the various negative impacts of chemical fungicides, the reduction of its applications in agricultural production process is widely recommended. Thus, the need and application of bio-agents in disease control has increased tremendously. The current study aimed at investigating the role of both bio-agents Glomus mosseae (mycorrhizal fungi) and Trichoderma harzianum in protection of Cucumis sativus (cucumber plants) against the fungal pathogen Alternaria alternata which is an opportunistic pathogen and the causal agent of cucumber wilt disease. Results obtained from this work revealed the positive influence of using bio-agents treatments in the reduction of pathogenic effects of A. alternata. The results also showed that G. mosseae and T. harzianum combination had a positive synergistic influence in reducing the detrimental effects of A. alternata ny improving the biomass yield (e.g. fresh and dry weight of root); as well as, on disease severity on C. sativus. Bio-agents (G. mosseae and T. harzianum) increased resistance in C. sativus by raising the production of enzymes catalase and peroxidase. Conclusively, this research revealed that using a multifarious combination of bio-agents significantly (P =.05) increased the efficiency of biological control of A. alternata than using each of them exclusively. Thus, it is recommended that to get an effective result in the control of the pathogen A. alternata in crops as highlighted by the results of this work; a combination of two bio-agents should be used.

This study aimed at the isolation and characterizion of endophytic fungi inhabiting halophytes (Nypa fruticans and Rhizophora racemosa) growing in mangrove ecosystem of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The physico-chemical parameters of the rhizospheric soils revealed EC (5.11, 5.41 and 5.01 dS/m), pH (5.1, 5.0 and 5.2), Na (2.26, 2.28 and 2.15 Cmol/kg) respectively. The identified strains were categorized into the phyla Ascomycota. At the genus level, Aspergillus (16 strains) accounted for the highest proportion followed by Penicillium (13 strains) and Fusarium (8 strains). The genera of the endophytic fungi isolated from the halophytic plants were Talaromyces, Aspergillus, Neosartorya, Purpureocillium, Fusarium and Penicillium. The six species isolated and characterized were; Talaromyces albobiverticillius (1), Aspergillus aculeatus (2), Aspergillus fumigatus (3), Fusarium equiseti (4) and Penicillium citrinum (5 and 6). The result from this study demonstrates the existence of fungal endophytes which have great potential in plant productivity. Additionally, this work creates a baseline study in the said study area; this will enable further researches emphasizing the importance of endophytic fungi in agricultural sectors as an eco-friendly biofertilizer to improve plant growth performance and defense as an alternative to inorganic fertilizers which have detrimental effects on both plants and the environment.