Vol. 12, Issue 1 (2023)

Author(s):
Harsha MK, Bhalerao PB, Daunde AT and Sakhare SS

Abstract:
Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is a prominent Rabi pulse crop in India. The Indian subcontinent accounts for 90% of total global chickpea production. Fusarium wilt, caused by F. oxysporum f.sp. ciceri, is the most significant limiting factor in chickpea production, inflicting 10-90% yield losses annually. Hence bacterial antagonists were isolated from the chickpea rhizosphere. Twenty bacterial antagonists were isolated successfully on the basal culture medium Nutrient agar and purified. The cultural and morphological characteristics of 20 bacterial antagonists were studied. Pseudomonas isolates were creamy white to greenish yellow in colour, circular in shape, smooth to glistening edge, butyrous in texture and convex elevation. In case of Bacillus isolates, colonies were fuzzy white in colour, circular lobate to irregular in shape, irregular edge, wrinkled in texture and flat elevation. The biochemical tests of Pseudomonas isolates were positive to Gelatin liquefaction, Catalase, KOH, Oxidase, Fluorescent pigment, Citrate, H2S tests and negative to grams staining and starch hydrolysis. In case of Bacillus isolates, colonies were positive to Gram’s staining, Starch hydrolysis, Gelatin liquefaction, Catalase, Oxidase, Citrate and negative to KOH, Fluorescent pigment and H2S tests. Among native and available bacterial antagonists, Bacillus, isolate BRSN-B2 proved best with 64.07% growth inhibition followed by Pseudomonas isolate CRSN-PF1 (48.74%).