Vivek Soni and Vinod Thakur

Macrophomina phaseolina is a soil borne fungal pathogen responsible for dry root rot in chickpea (Cicer arietinum), leading to significant yield losses worldwide. The use of bacterial antagonists has emerged as an ecofriendly and sustainable alternative to chemical fungicides for managing this disease. Various bacterial species, including Bacillus, Pseudomonas and streptomyces, have been reported to suppress Macrophomina phaseolina through multiple mechanisms such as antibiosis, production of hydrolytic enzymes, siderophore secretion, and induction of systemic resistance in plants. This review summarizes the recent advances in understanding the antagonistic potential of different bacterial strains their mechanism of action, and their effectiveness under laboratory and field conditions. Emphasis is given to the role of biocontrol bacteria in improving soil health, plant growth promotion, and sustainable chickpea cultivation. Future prospects and challenges in developing commercial biocontrol formulations are also discussed.

Pages: 485-491  |  150 Views  69 Downloads