Induced systemic resistance to tomato leaf curl virus and increased yield in tomato by plant growth promoting rhizobacteria under field conditions

The talc-based formulation of two Pseudomonas fluorescens strains (Pf1 and VPT10) and its mixture (with and without chitin) were tested against tomato leaf curl virus in tomato under greenhouse and field conditions. The mean percentage of tomato leaf curl virus infected plants were significantly lower (25%) with less symptom severity and delayed symptom expression up to nine additional days in Pseudomonas with chitin (VPT10 + chitin) treated tomato plants compared to non-bacterised control plants upon challenge inoculation with tomato leaf curl virus. Tomato leaf curl virus was partially purified and antiserum was developed. Using the antiserum the tomato leaf curl virus was detected in symptomatic leaves and in whitefly vector through direct antigen coating enzyme linked immunosorbent assay which revealed the low virus titre in Pseudomonas treated plants (VPT10 + chitin) and insect vector compared to untreated tomato plants. The results indicate the potentiality of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria strains and talc-powder formulations in the effective management of this tomato leaf curl virus in tomato under field conditions.