Unveiling broad-spectrum microbial antagonists for sustainable managementof seed-borne diseases of lentil (Lens culinaris)

MALLANNA  MALAGATTI; ATUL  KUMAR; NAGAMANI  SANDRA; GYAN PRAKASH  MISHRA; JAMEEL  AKHTAR; SEEMA  SANGWAN; BASAVARAJ A  DODMANI; PRAVEEN S  PATTED; SUNIL  KUMAR

doi:10.56093/ijas.v96i8.174903

Authors

MALLANNA MALAGATTI ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India
ATUL KUMAR ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India
NAGAMANI SANDRA ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India
GYAN PRAKASH MISHRA ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India
JAMEEL AKHTAR ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetics Resources, New Delhi, India
SEEMA SANGWAN ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India
BASAVARAJ A DODMANI ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India
PRAVEEN S PATTED ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Regional Station, Ooty, Tamil Nadu, India
SUNIL KUMAR ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v96i8.174903

Keywords:

Bioagents, Biocontrol, Characterisation, Identification, Rhizospheric-microbes

Abstract

Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) productivity is significantly affected by seed-borne pathogens such as Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lentis, Rhizoctonia solani, and Botrytis cinerea. The use of indigenous rhizospheric microbes as broad-spectrum biocontrol agents offers a sustainable strategy for disease management. The present investigation was conducted to isolate, characterise, and identify indigenous rhizospheric microorganisms possessing biocontrol and plant growth promoting (PGP) attributes. Forty fungal and thirty bacterial strains were isolated from lentil rhizosphere soil collected during winter (rabi) season of 2023–24 at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, and screened for antagonist activity against the targeted pathogens employing a dual culture assay and biochemical traits. Among them, three fungal (F11, F16, F27) and two bacterial (B2, B13) isolates exhibited the strong and consistent inhibition of all pathogens. Morphological and cultural characterisation revealed typical features of potential
antagonists, which were validated by molecular identification. Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region sequencing identified the fungal isolates as Trichoderma harzianum (F11), Trichoderma asperellum (F16), and Talaromyces flavus (F27), whereas the bacterial isolates were identified through 16S rDNA sequencing as Pseudomonas fluorescens (B2) and Bacillus subtilis (B13). Phylogenetic analysis validated their taxonomic affiliation. Furthermore, the isolates exhibited multiple biocontrol and PGP traits, including hydrolytic enzymes, siderophores, hydrogen cyanide (HCN), ammonia, phosphate solubilisation, and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). The combined expression of antagonistic and PGP activities highlights the potential of these indigenous microbial isolates as promising candidates for the development of eco-friendly biocontrol formulations, providing a strong basis for further evaluation under greenhouse and field conditions for integrated management of lentil diseases.

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