Seed treatment with bio-fungicides for management of dry root rot of Chick pea caused by Macrophomina phaseolina

Seed treatment with bio-wilt X (Trichoderma harzianum) reduced the severity to 2.4 on 0–5 scale followed by bio-derma (T. viride, 2.7) and Abtec Pseudo (Pseudomonas fluorescens, 2.8). The functional nodule count decreased while an increase in non functional nodules was recorded due to inoculation with Macrophomina phaseolina. The growth and yield of infected plants was 37–59% and 38–42% lower than uninoculated plants. Seed application with bio-fungicides @ 4g/ml kg seeds reduced the severity of damage and also increased the growth and yield of infested plants. The greatest increase in growth parameters (30–36%) and yield (28–40%) was recorded with bio-wilt X (T. harzianum). T. viride (bio-derma) was next in increasing chick pea dry weight and yield by 18–29% and 25–33%, respectively followed by Abtec Pseudo that caused 18–26% and 2527% increase over pathogen inoculated plants. Abtec Bacillus did not significantly improve the growth parameters, but enhanced the yield by 19%. Soil population of M. phaseolina was significantly reduced in presence of bio-control agents.