Evaluation of a liquid formulation of Pseudomonas fluorescens against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp cubense and Helicotylenchus multicinctus in banana plantation

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are eco-friendly alternatives to chemical fungicides to manage plant diseases. We evaluated the efficacy of a Pseudomonas fluorescens formulation against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense and Helicotylenchus multicinctus at multiple banana plantations. Three field trials were conducted to assess the wilt incidence and the populations of nematode and bacteria in the soil treated with a liquid formulation of P. fluorescens at 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 l ha(-1) using drip irrigation system at 60, 120, 180 and 240 days after planting. The results showed that the treatment at 4.0 l ha(-1) reduced the wilt incidence by 60 %. It also reduced the overall population of H. multicinctus by 41.3-89.0 % in the treated fields. The presence of P. fluorescens in the treated soil was 5.6 x 10(6) cfu g(-1) of soil at the time of harvest. The treatment of biocontrol agent P. fluorescens also resulted in an overall yield increase in banana production by 36.6-46.5 % compared to the control.