Molecular Characterization of pseudomonas Fluorescens Inhibiting the Chickpea Wilt Pathogen in vitro

Chickpea ( L.) is the most important pulse crop of India. Wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceri is the major limiting factor of chickpea production. The Pseudomonas fluorescens is used as a biocontrol agent against the chickpea wilt pathogen. However, the diversity of such bacteria that can exhibit antagonism against wilt pathogen is poorly exploited. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacterial strains belonging to fluorescent Pseudomonads were isolated from the rhizosphere of chickpea. Ten isolates which exhibited strong antifungal antagonistic activity against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceri mainly through the production of antifungal metabolites were characterized by PCR-RAPD analysis. A considerable level of molecular diversity was determined among the rhizobacterial isolates of Pseudomonas fluorescens isolated from different chickpea growing areas of Gujarat.