Isolation and characterization of bacterial strains for biocontrol activity in chilli against Fusarium sps.

Chilli (Capsicum annum L.) is one of the most important vegetable and spice crop belongs to family Solanaceae and genus Capsicum. It is susceptible to various diseases and pests. Among all of them, family Solanaceae mostly affected by fungal diseases. This study focuses on biocontrol activity of chilli bacterial wilt caused by Fusarium sps. Here, with 43 isolates obtained from soil, seed and aerial parts of chilli. Out of all 43 isolates, potent isolates were taken based on in vitro activities like Siderophore, HCN, In vitro antagonism, Dual culture. W1RC1 (74%), MB2RC4 (76%), MB1ENC1 (77%), MB2ENC1 (79%), W1EPC2 (76%), MB1EPC1 (79%) were different inhibition percentage against Fusarium sps. These potent bacterial isolates were compatible with each other through dual culture and taken for preparation of consortium for ongoing pot culture experiment of chilli with seven treatments involving T1(Absolute Control), T2 (100% RDF (Negative Control)), T3(100% RDF + Seed treatment with consortia), T4(100%RDF + Soil application with consortium), T5 (100% RDF + Seed treatment + Soil application with consortium), T6 (100% RDF + Application of fungicide Mancozeb @ 2.5g/ lit), T7 (100% RDF + Seed treatment with consortium + Fungicidal spray). Out of all the treatments T5 (100% RDF + Seed treatment + Soil application with consortium) treatment plants shown better results in terms of plant growth and defense enzyme activities (PO, PPO, PAL).