ANTAGONISTIC POTENTIAL OF ROOT REGION MICROFLORA OF CHICKPEA AGAINST FUSARIUM-OXYSPORUM F SP CICERI

Antagonistic potential of root-region microflora of chickpea (Cicer ar ietinum L.) against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceri was evaluated thro ugh colony interactions and the effects of their volatile and non-vola tile metabolites. Trichoderma harzianum T. viride, Streptomyces rochi (S-1) and S. rimosus were proved to be strong antagonists. Significant colony inhibition of the pathogen, was noted due to colony interactio n with species of Aspergillus, T. harzianum, T. koningii, T. viride, S . rochi (S-1), S. rimosus and Bacillus subtilis (S-2) and due to non-v olatile metabolites of A. luchuensis, A. niger, S. rochi (S-1) and S. rimosus and the volatile metabolites of Penicillium citrinum P. decumb ens, P. oxalicum, T. koningii, T. viride, S. rochi (S-1) and S. rimosu s. Considering all the parameters in totality T. harzianum T. viride, S. rochi (S1()) and S. rimosus were noted as the most potent antagonis ts against the test pathogen.