Role of PGPM in Managing Soil-Borne Plant Pathogens in Horticulture Crops

Abstract

AbstractHorticultural crops contribute significantly (28%) to India’s agriculture GDP and have a vital role in food security of India. At present, there is huge scope for expansion of area under horticultural crops in arid and semi-arid regions as these regions are blessed with vast land resources, surplus labours, developing infrastructural facilities, plenty of solar and wind energy. Fruit crops such as Aegle marmelos (bael), Phoenix dactylifera (date palm), Ziziphus mauritiana (ber), Emblica officinalis (aonla), Punica granatum (pomegranate), kinnow, Cordia myxa. (lasoda), Carissa carndas (karonda) and Prosopis cineraria (khejri) and vegetables such as cucurbits, legumes and solanaceous crops are important horticultural crops grown in arid and semi-arid regions. Biotic factors like insect pest, plant diseases and phytopathogenic nematodes are major challenges for cultivation of horticultural crops in arid and semi-arid regions. The plant growth promoting microorganisms (PGPM) are known as the beneficial microorganisms which are free-living or associated and found in every agro-ecology. Different PGPMs are endowed with the ability of providing growth substances and simultaneous control of plant diseases. PGPMs are involved in plant growth promotion by performing different plant growth promotion activities. PGPMs are known to synthesize various kinds of growth regulating secondary metabolites, enhance nutrient uptake and stimulate immune pathways in plants. These bio-agents or pathogen-controlling PGPMs have the capabilities to biosynthesize anti-microbial compounds which are active against plant pathogens. Therefore, PGPMs can be used effectively in managing soil-borne pathogens (Pythium sp., Phytopthora sp., Rhizoctonia sp., Fusarium sp. and Macrophomina phaseolina) in horticulture crops.KeywordsHorticulture cropsManagementPGPMSoil-borne fungi