INDUCTION OF SYSTEMIC RESISTANCE AND WILT MANAGEMENT IN CHICKPEA BY ANTAGONISTIC RHIZOBACTERIA CO-INOCULATED WITH MESORHIZOBIUM CICERIS.

The use of PGPR as an inducer of systemic resistance in crop plants is relatively novel, cheaper and appropriate method to provide resistance against a broad spectrum of pathogens via production of defense related proteins. This study has reported the potential of five native rhizobacterial antagonists (2B, 7B, 28P, 34Pand 38P) alone and in combination with Mesorhizobium to control the disease severity and to boost the defense enzymes in chickpea plants (variety GPF-2) against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris under glass house conditions. Selected antagonists were observed for the production of Salicylic and Gibberellic acid. Gibberellic acid production ranged from (242.4- 377.3 ?g/ml). Maximum Salicylic (72.9 ?g/ml) and Gibberellic acid (377.3 ?g/ml) production was shown by 38P. Seed bacterization with 38 P and 34P along with Mesorhizobium, efficiently controlled the disease (76.8 % and 75.4 %) than the fungicide treatment (69.2%) and rhizobacterial isolates alone indicating the synergistic effect. Estimation of the Pathogenesis related proteins from the root tissues of chickpea revealed that maximum production of phenolic, Peroxydase and Polyphenol oxidase was also observed in 34P and 38P in combination with Mesorhizobium. PR proteins play important role in disease resistance and also help the plant to adapt to the environmental stress. This study reveals that PGPRs co-inoculation with specific rhizobia not only enhance the growth rate or protect the plants from pathogens via antagonism, but also help to induce enhanced systemic resistance i.e. plant defence mechanism by the induction of phenolic and several pathogenesis related proteins.