A new bioprocess to produce low cost powder formulations of biocontrol bacteria and fungi to control fusarial wilt and root-knot nematode of pulses

A novel process is described to produce biopesticides of Trichoderma harzianum Rifai, Pochonia chlamydosporia Zare and Gams, Bacillus subtilis Cohn amend. Prazmowski and Pseudomonas fluorescens (Threvesan) Migula by taking 1 part of stock culture (sawdust:soil:5% molasses, 15:5:1) of the biocontrol agents and 20 parts carrier (flyash:soil:5% molasses mixture, 5:3:1) (w/w). Greatest CFU counts of the microorganisms were recorded at 25 degrees C or room temperature during 2-12 weeks of 32 weeks long shelf life test. Seed treatment with the biopesticides @ 5 g/kg seeds carried 10(3-6) CFU/g seed of chickpea and pigeonpea. The treatments with T. harzianum and P. chlamydosporia effectively controlled the wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri Padwick, Fusarium udum Butler) and root knot (Meloidogyne incognita Kofoid and white, Chitwood) on chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) and greatly reduced the soil population of the pathogens. The biocontrol agents established in the soil and their CFU increased significantly (P <= 0.05), being greater in pathogen infested soils (P <= 0.05) than non infested soil during 4 months period. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Inc.