USE OF VERTICILLIUM-CHLAMYDOSPORIUM IN THE BIOLOGICAL-CONTROL OF ROOT-ROT DISEASE OF CHICKPEA

Verticillium chlamydosporium isolated from eggs of Meloidogyne incogni ta, root knot nematode, inhibited the growth of Macrophomina phaseolin a, Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium solani and F. oxysporum in vitro. In a field experiment V. chlamydosporium was found more or equally effecti ve than Paecilomyces lilacinus, Talaromyces flavus and Bradyrhizobium japonicum in controlling the infection of M. phaseolina, R. solani, F. oxysporum and F. solani in chickpea. Combined use of V. chlamydospori um and B. japonicum showed better control of F. oxysporum than their s eparate use. Combined use of B.japonicum and T.flavus produced greater plant height and fresh weight of shoot in chickpea.