Integrated application of Trichoderma harzianum and Pseudomonas fluorescens for the biological management of Botrytis gray mould in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Botrytis gray mould (BGM), caused by Botrytis cinerea Pers. ex Fr., is a major yield-limiting disease in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) globally. In recent years, biological control has gained prominence as a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to disease management. This study evaluated the efficacy of two biological control agents, Trichoderma harzianum and Pseudomonas fluorescens, against BGM through laboratory and field trials. in vitro dual culture assays demonstrated significant antagonistic activity of selected strains against B. cinerea. Field experiments were conducted at the Crop Research Centre (CRC), G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, during the rabi seasons of 2007-08 and 2008-09, using the highly susceptible cultivar H-208 in a Randomized Block Design (RBD). Treatments included foliar applications of T. harzianum, P. fluorescens, and a combination of both agents at 15-day intervals. All biocontrol treatments significantly reduced disease severity as well as increase the grain yield and 1000-seed weight compared to the untreated control. The combined application of T. harzianum and P. fluorescens was most effective, indicating synergistic effects in suppressing gray mould and promoting plant health. These findings align with recent advancements in biological control research emphasizing integrated microbial consortia for enhanced pathogen suppression (Kumar et al., 2023; Zhang et al., 2024).