Potential of Azotobacter spp. as biocontrol agents against Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium oxysporum in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) and tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum)

During the current investigation, 51 bacterial isolates/mutants of Azotobacter chroococcum, Azospirillum spp. and Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus were tested for antifungal activity against three fungal pathogens, namely Rhizoctonia solani cotton, Rhizoctonia solani rice and Fusarium oxysporum tomato using a dual-culture technique under laboratory conditions. Ten isolates/mutants were found to be inhibitory against R. solani cotton, six against R. solani rice and twelve against F. oxysporum tomato. Nearly 50% of the isolates/mutants were siderophore positive. The antimicrobial substance was found to be extracellular and proteinaceous in nature, but in some strains it was found to be associated with other complex material also. Almost all the positive isolates/mutants showed production of antibiotic and antifungal compounds. On the basis of this study, in vitro results under laboratory conditions were reproduced in pot experiments in the greenhouse and chosen isolates/mutants of A. chroococcum were found to be effective biocontrol agents against R. solani cotton (disease index 16.7%) and R. solani rice (2.5%) in cotton crop, whereas in guar, the crop disease index was 2.5% against R. solani cotton, 13.3% against R. solani rice and 0% against F. oxysporum tomato in tomato crop compared with their respective checks.