Biological Control of Chickpea Wilt Caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris*

Abstract

This study was conducted in an attempt to control chickpea
(Cicer arietinum L.) wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris,
using antagonistic properties of soil microorganisms. It also aimed at
avoiding problems resulting from the use of chemical fungicides. A
Trichoderma sp. was isolated from the rhizosphere of a resistant chickpea
variety (ICCV-2) and a Bacillus sp. from the rhizosphere and rhizoplane
of the same variety. Both microorganisms proved to be effective in
controlling the disease. In addition, Trichoderma harzianum, which was
obtained from Giza Research Station in Egypt, was also antagonistic to
Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris Wilt incidence was significantly
reduced when chickpea was grown in pots containing soil mixed with any
of the three antagonists or when chickpea seeds were initially treated with
the seed-dressing fungicide Vincit at 2 ml/kg seeds. Trichoderma
harzianum proved to be the best bioagent as it gave the lowest disease
incidence. In the field, the two Trichoderma spp. were as effective as
Vincit in causing reduction in the wilt incidence. At the higher
concentration of 140 g/m 2 , the two antagonists were effective throughout
the growth period, but they were less effective at the lower concentration
of 70 g/m 2 particularly at the seedling stage.