POTENTIAL FOR BIOLOGICAL-CONTROL OF PHYTOPHTHORA ROOTROT OF CHICKPEA BY ANTAGONISTIC ROOT-ASSOCIATED BACTERIA

Over 1000 bacteria were isolated from rhizospheres of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and evaluated for their potential as biological control agents of Phytophthora megasperma f. sp. medicaginis root rot of chickpea in vitro. Following in vitro plate assays for fungal antagonism, initial pot assay results showed 31 isolates with the ability to limit or delay chickpea seedling disease in a pasteurized soil. The most promising isolates were identified as Pseudomonas cepacia (seven strains) and P. fluorescens (two strains). No relationship was observed between biological control activity of the bacteria and the soils, chickpea cultivars or the methods used in their isolation.