Abstract:
Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) is an important crop in Sri Lanka. However, chilli
cultivation is severely affected in many areas due to several soil-borne pathogens.
Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. has been identified as one of the major pathogens that even
attack mature plants. Success of control of the pathogen by using merely fungicides is
not promising. Rhizobacteria isolated from healthy chilli plants were screened for
antagonism against S. rolfsii and isolates of a Pseudomonas spp. and a Bacillus spp. were
found to be highly effective on plate assays. Doss-response analysis showed that there is
a linear relationship between inoculum dosage and disease incidence. Seed bacterization
with individual biocontrol agents significantly reduced the disease incidence in chilli
compared to the non-bacterized control and introducing bacterial isolates to root system
prior to transplanting of seedlings further enhanced the seedling protection from S. rolfsii
infection.
