Integration of salicylic acid, vermicompost and bioagent for effective management of chickpea wilt disease

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the ability of integration of salicylic acid, vermicompost and bioagent for effective management of chickpea wilt disease. Methodology: The effectiveness of salicylic acid and ZnSO4 unaided and in combination with Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and vermicompost were evaluated against Fusarium wilt of chickpea under natural condition. Three sets of experiment with nine treatments were conducted in earthen pots in completely randomized design. Ten seeds of wilt susceptible chickpea variety JG 62 were sown. Twenty-days-old plants were sprayed with salicylic acid (Set I), ZnSO4 (Set II) and distilled H2O (Set III). After 24 hr of foliar spray, the whole set of treatment was inoculated with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri inoculums, except uninoculated control. The number of wilted seedlings in each pot for each treatment were recorded at 10, 20 and 30 days post-inoculation (dpi) and compared with uninoculated pots. Results: The combined effect of vermicompost amendment @15% and pre-inoculation treatment of salicylic acid showed 0.00, 6.67 and 6.67% wilt incidence whereas treatments having ZnSO4 as pre-inoculation foliar spray resulted in 0.00, 13.33 and 13.33% wilt incidence at 10, 20 and 30 dpi, respectively. Further, the combined treatment of 15% vermicompost along with seed bacterization and pre-inoculation foliar spray of salicylic acid showed complete protection against F. oxysporum f. sp. ciceri. The beneficial effect of vermicompost and PGPR isolate on root and shoot length, and fresh and dry weight of chickpea plants were also observed. Interpretation: High potential for integrating vermicompost, bioagent and foliar application of salicylic acid to surrogate chemical fungicides for eco-friendly and sustainable management of wilt disease in chickpea.