Development of microbial consortia as a biocontrol agent for effective management of fungal diseases in Glycine max L.

Thirty isolates of bacteria and six isolates of Trichoderma were isolated from fertile agricultural soil and evaluated for their antagonistic activity against phytopathogens like Macrophomina phaseolina and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, under in vitro conditions. Different isolates showed varying degrees of antagonism. The three most antagonistic bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MBAA1), Bacillus cereus (MBAA2) and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (MBAA3) and one fungi Trichoderma citrinoviride (MBAAT) were selected as the most effective isolates as biocontrol agents. The present study was undertaken to develop a plant growth promoting microbial consortium to reduce the disease incidence in Glycine max both under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Biocontrol attributes such as ammonia, siderophore, enzymes like β-1,3 glucanase, chitinase and cellulase were more potential in consortia in comparison to single isolates. Plants treated with consortia?+?pathogen showed lower disease incidence in comparison to single antagonist?+?pathogen and pathogen infested control (p?≤?0.05). Maximum disease control was observed in potted plants treated with S. sclerotiorum?+?MBAA1?+?MBAAT showing only 15.8% disease incidence in comparison to Sclerotinia infested control, in which disease incidence was 97%. Seed bacterised with MBAA1?+?MBAAT exhibited enhanced seed germination of G. max up to 68% along with subsequent increase in other plant growth parameters. Considerable increase in seedling vigour index (1863.2) and chlorophyll content (13.518?mg/g) was observed in seeds treated with MBAA1?+?MBAAT in plants infected with M. phaseolina.