Vol. 11, Special Issue 6 (2022)

Author(s):
Paryotampal Kaur, Amanpreet Singh Sran, Manpreet Kaur Chahal, Gagandeep Singh Sohi, Mamta beniwal, Dalwinder Singh, Anil Kumar and Bahaderjit Singh

Abstract:
Rhizosphere, the soil region nearest to plant root system, inhabits various microorganisms. Rhizosphere has the most density and diversity of microbes. The present work deals with the isolation of microorganisms from the rhizospheric soil of wheat and rice in Malwa and Majha region (Talwandi Sabo, Amritsar and Gurdaspur) of Punjab. The average number of bacteria ranges from 3 to 7 (per gm), fungi ranges from 3 to 8 (per gm), Actinomycetes 0 to 1 (per gm) and Yeast ranges from 0 to 4 (per gm) from parts of Punjab region. The fungal cultures isolated from all three parts were identified as Alternaria spp., Aspergillus spp., Rhizopus spp., Fusarium spp., Penicillium spp., Cladosporium spp., Chrysosporium spp. Thirty two bacterial cultures were isolated from all three parts of Punjab region. Ten fungal and fifteen bacterial cultures were selected for their antifungal activity against Alternaria macrospora during primary screening. Out of 15 bacterial isolates, three isolates B15, B14, B11 and out of ten fungal isolates five isolates i.e. Rhizopus, Alternaria, Fusarium, Cladosporium and Aspergillus shows good inhibitory effect against Alternaria macrospora. During secondary screening the bacterial isolate B15, B14 and B11 shows maximum zone of inhibition against Pyricularia oryzae, Alternaria macrospora, Alternaria citri and Diplodia natalensis. While fungal isolates control various pathogens but unable to control all the four pathogens. Alternaria macrospora was controlled by all the fungal isolates (selected during primary and secondary screening). Maximum zone of inhibition was shown by fungal isolate F10 (Rhizopus spp.) and minimum by F8 (Aspergillus spp.) against Alternaria macrospora i.e. 13mm and 8mm respectively. All the fungal isolates were unable to show inhibition zone against Diplodia natalensis and Alternaria citri. Considering the importance of rice and wheat crops and the cost of management of diseases, it is very important to study the microflora associated with these crops.