EFFICACY OF SOME FUNGAL ANTAGONIST AGAINST CHICKPEA WILT PATHOGEN FUSARIUM OXYSPORUM f. sp. ciceri

Chickpea is a well-known rainfed crop of high value. Wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceri (FOC) is the major seed, soil borne disease which results in excessive damage to the crop. The present study was aimed to determine the potentiality of locally isolated bioagents (Trichoderma Harzianum, Trichoderma viride and Aspergillus niger) against seven isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.ciceri causing chickpea wilt. Under in vitro conditions all the tested antagonist species inhibited the radial growth of the pathogen. Among all the bioagents the inhibition of the pathogen was least with A. niger and maximum with T. harzianum. Under pot experiments all the treatments were able to significantly control the wilt incidence. The bioagents at different concentrations viz. (2%, 4%, 6%, 8% w/w) were tested against the susceptible variety viz. JG62. T. harzianum and T. viride at 8% and A. niger at 10% concentration (w/w), inhibited the wilt incidence upto 100%.