Screening for effective microbial consortia against Fusarium wilt of cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana)

Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht. (Hypocreales: Nectriaceae) is one of the most devastating plant pathogens worldwide, causing vascular wilt in several crops. Management of this disease primarily relies on chemical fungicides and resistant cultivars in high value crops. However, due to the limited efficacy of these methods, alternative control methods are needed. Biological control is a sustainable, safe, and effective alternative, but the use of a single biological control agent (BCA) usually has inconsistent results. The consistency of biocontrol could be enhanced using microbial consortia. In this context, the aim of this work was to select an effective microbial consortium against vascular wilt in cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.) caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. physali, from a mixture of four strains of Trichoderma spp. Pers. (Hypocreales: Hypocraceae) and Bacillus velezensis (Bacillales: Bacillaceae) Bs006. The calculated synergy factor was used as a selection criterion. Then the selected consortium was evaluated in the field and compared to carbendazim. The Trichoderma virens Gl006 and B. velezensis Bs006 consortium showed synergistic activity against vascular wilt under greenhouse and field conditions and efficacy similar to chemical control. These results suggest that Gl006 and Bs006 have a higher potential in controlling Fusarium wilt in cape gooseberry when applied as a consortium compared to separate, single strains.