Bio-control of Fusarium Wilt of Pigeon Pea by Isolated Bacterial Strains

Abstract

Fusarium wilt is one of the major yield limiting factors of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan). For an eco-friendly and sustainable management of such a disease, bacterial isolates were evaluated against fungal pathogen Fusarium udum, which is known to be, infecting the susceptible variety of pigeon pea, commonly prevalent in India. To assess the antifungal efficacy of these bacterial isolates, we have done the in vitro as well as in vivo studies were performed. Thirty isolates of Pseudomonas spp. and twenty isolates of Bacillus spp. have been isolated from soil of pigeon pea field. Among these, five isolates of Pseudomonas spp. (Pf05, Pf14, Pf19, Pf23, Pf25) and four isolates of Bacillus spp. (Bc01, Bc09, Bc14, Bc20) were considered as potential biocontrol agents against the fusarial wilt, as they have been attributed to the production of antifungal metabolites including hydrogen cyanide, chitinase and siderophores. Under pot condition, Pf14 and Bc20 isolates treated pigeon pea seeds have shown 59 % and 50 % increase in seedling growth respectively and reduction in fusarium wilt incidence. When we further tested under field condition, Pf14 treated seeds resulted in higher grain yield then Bc20 treated seeds. This indicates Pseudomonas spp. Pfss had good potential as a biocontrol against fusarium wilt of pigeon pea.