APPLICATION OF SOME STRAINS OF FLUORESCENT PSEUDOMONADS IN MANAGING ROOT-INFECTING PATHOGENS OF MAIZE

Possibility of manipulating some of the efficient strains of fluorescent pseudomonads to manage the root-infecting pathogens of maize was studied throughout this study. Out of 110 isolates 24 of Pseudomonas species, recovered from the plant rhizosphere showed to have inhibitory effect against two major root-infecting pathogens of maize, namely Cephalosporium maydis and Fusarium verticillioides in vitro. Pot experiment revealed that just 4 isolates could reduce infection with both pathogens and enhance the plant growth as well. Based on the genotypic identifications of these four isolates showed that they were: Pseudomonas putida strain Pau9, P. putida strainPau11, P. putida strain Psf3 and P. aeruginosa strain Psf9.