Screening and Testing the Effect of Biocontrol Agents (Bacillus sp.) and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri strains (Wilt) on Plant Defense Enzymes in Chickpea

Abstract

Wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris) is considered as one of the major factors for low productivity of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). In order to address the problem, germinated seeds of ‘Desi’ chickpea cv. JG-62 were inoculated with a conidial suspension (root dip) of highly virulent Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris (Foc) race 4, three days after germination (DAG). The extent of disease suppression was studied with two bacterial biocontrol agents B-36 and MSUC-2. Out of seventeen bacterial isolated screened for antifungal activity, strain B-36 reported maximum inhibition zone of 15 mm with fungal strain 101, which has shown maximum virulence (55.6% reduction in plant stand). Chlorophyll and nitrogen content has reduced by 25.2% and 66% respectively at 30 DAS in pathogen inoculated treatment. β 1,3 glucanse, chitinase, phenylalanine ammonia lyase activities had 1.9, 2.02 and1.72fold increase respectively in B-36 treated seeds compared to pathogen only treated seeds. 16S rDNA sequencing of both the bacterial cultures identified them as Bacillus subtilis (Acc No: KX 503819) and Bacillus sp (Acc No: KX 503820) respectively.