Biological Management of Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) Fusarium wilt by Using the Potential Pseudomonas Isolates

Abstract

Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) is also known as "massoor". A member of the Leguminaceae family is known for their high protein and nutrient content. Wilt incited by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lentis can result in significant yield losses upto 50% for lentil farmers. Chemical management through fungicides reduces crop losses significantly but has some environmental drawbacks and conflicts on the human health instead other methods of control such as the use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) as a bio-inoculant which gaining attention as a sustainable approach to manage plant diseases. PGPR are soil bacteria that live in the rhizosphere of plants and promote growth. The use of PGPR-based agents has increased in agriculture in recent years. In this study, isolation and evaluation of novel pseudomonad isolates were performed from various soil sources and exploited for controlling lentil wilt caused by F. oxysporum f.sp. lentis and assess their in-vitro ability to inhibit the pathogen.