STUDIES ON THE EFFECT OF PLANT GROWTH PROMOTING RHIZOBACTERIA AND BIOCONTROL AGENTS ON GROWTH, YIELD AND SEED PRODUCTION IN BELL PEPPER (Capsicum annuum L.)
Loading...
Date
2018-07-05
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present investigations entitled “Studies on the effect of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria and
biocontrol agents on growth, yield and seed production in bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)” was conducted
during the years 2016 and 2017at the Research Farm and laboratory of Department of Seed Science and
Technology, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP). Firstly, in vitro
screening of three indigenous isolates each of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR 1, PGPR 2 & PGPR
3) and biocontrol agents (Trichoderma viride, T. harzianum & T. hamatum) as seed treatment was done. Based
on germination percentage, speed of germination, seedling vigour index – length (SVI-L) and seedling vigour
index – mass (SVI-M), PGPR 3 and T. harzianum were selected from PGPRs and BCAs, respectively for further
evaluation. Nine treatment combinations based on seed treatment (108cfu/ml of PGPR & 106cfu/g of
Trichoderma) and soil application (talc formulation mixed with FYM @ 2%) of these two bio-agents were used
viz., PGPR3 seed treatment (T1), T. harzianum seed treatment (T2), PGPR3 soil application (T3), Trichoderma
soil application (T4), PGPR seed treatment + T. harzianum soil application (T5), PGPR3 soil application + T.
harzianum seed treatment (T6), PGPR3 seed treatment + PGPR3 soil application (T7), T. harzianum seed
treatment + T. harzianum soil application (T8) and Untreated control (T9). Under nursery conditions, maximum
germination (86.20 %), maximum speed of germination (87.50), maximum seedling length (11.97cm),
maximum seedling dry weight (4.45 mg), maximum seedling vigour index – length (SVI-L) (1011.16),
maximum seedling vigour index – mass (SVI-M) (384.42), were recorded with PGPR seed treatment + T.
harzianum soil application (T5) and minimum was recorded with untreated control. Under field conditions (fresh
crop), maximum plant height (70.42 cm), number of fruits/plant (9.50), average fruit weight (44.01 g), fruit size
(42.05 cm), harvest duration (56.67 days), number pickings (7.93), fresh fruit yield/ plant (922.33 g), fruit
yield/plot (13.83 kg) and fruit yield/ha (403.17 q) were recorded with PGPR3 seed treatment + T. harzianum
soil application (T5) and minimum was recorded in untreated control. In field experiment (seed crop),
highestnumber of ripe fruits/plant (7.75), fruit weight (48.46 g), fruit size (44.37 cm), fruit yield/plot (15.58 kg),
fruit yield/ha (450.37 q), number seeds/fruit (177.51), seed yield/plot (236.63 g), seed yield/ha (673.50 kg),
1000 seed weight (6.63 g), seed recovery (1.58%), quality of harvested seed were recorded with PGPR seed
treatment + T. harzianum soil application (T5) and minimum was recorded in untreated control.This treatment
combination also showed minimum incidence of major diseases viz. Cercospora leaf spot (5.10%), anthracnose
(1.70%) and Phytophthora fruit rot (10.78 %) as compared to other treatments and control. It can be concluded
from the present investigation that seed treatment with PGPR3 (108cfu/ml) for 4 hrs before sowing in nursery
and soil application of talc formulation of Trichoderma harzianum (106cfu/gm) mixed with FYM @ 2% w/w in
nursery and field enhanced plant growth, fresh fruit yield, seed yield and quality of harvested seed in bell pepper
cv. Solan Bharpur. The treatment combination also reduced incidence of major diseases like anthracnose,
Phytophthora fruit rot and Cercospora leaf spot under field conditions.
Description
Keywords
null