Abstract

                                The native strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens were isolated from the rhizosphere of healthy banana and tested for their efficacy to manage Radopholus similis on banana. Among the 40 isolates of P. fluorescens tested, isolates PfB 13, PfB 19, PfB 24, PfB 32, PfB 35 and PfB 39 increased germination and the vigour index of rice under roll towel and pot culture conditions. In vitro, significant mortality of R. similis adult female were observed in the culture filtrate of PfB 13 at 100% concentration. In glasshouse conditions, significantly reduced nematode population and lesion index were observed in plants treated with the isolate PfB13. The plant growth parameters also significantly improved in isolate PfB 13 treated plants when compared to control plants.

Key words : Pseudomonas fluorescens, Radopholus, germination and vigour