Role of Rhizobacteria Associated with Diseased Tomato Plants towards their Response with Ralstonia sp The Bacterial Wilt Agent

Abstract

In this study, we have aimed to determine the antagonistic effects of various rhizobacteria against representatives of bacterial wilt disease; Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum with a comparison from control sterile distilled water (SDW) aliquots. During in-vitro study, bacterial wilt agent was clearly inhibited in their growth by significant percentage by 32 different strains through perforated agar plate method. Results showed 10 potential strains among those 32 strains viz. DIB76/BCS-8, DIB76/BCS-9, DIB76/BCS-10, DIB76/BCS-12, DIB76/BCS-19, DIB76/BCS-20, DIB76/BCS-21, DIB76/BCS-24, DIB76/BCS-26 and DIB76/BCS-27 had the highest growth suppression for 9 different strains of R. pseudosolanacearum as compared to other bacterial strains. Trials with tomato crop at polyhouse had no incidence of bacterial wilt than those for control. Study, thus identifies 10 rhizobacterial strains from rhizosphere soil of diseased tomato plant possessing potential antagonistic activity against the wilt pathogen and has prospects as good biocontrol agents.