Potential of Native Microflora of Banana, Chili and Garlic Intercropping System for Bio-control of Rhizoctonia solani Causing Root Rot of Chili

Root rot disease caused by Rhizoctonia solani is a serious problem in chili pepper production, leading to significant crop loss and reduced yield. The chemical control method for controlling this soil borne disease is not preferred due environmental concerns and harmful effect on beneficial soil microflora. Therefore, there is an increasing demand for safer and sustainable approaches. In the present investigation which was conducted in laboratory of the Department of Plant Pathology and Nematology, RPCAU, Pusa, Bihar during the year 2021-23, the microflora isolated from the rhizosphere of Banana+Chili+Garlic intercropping system were evaluated for their effectiveness against Rhizoctonia solani causing root rot in Chili. In course of study the isolates of Trichoderma and Bacillus significantly reduced the radial growth of Rhizoctonia solani. The maximum growth inhibition was recorded by the Trichoderma isolate - GITr5 causing 71.40 % inhibition of the pathogen growth. This was followed by CITr4 with 67.41% and BITr1 with 62.86 %inhibition of the pathogen. Among the bacterial isolates, The isolate CIRB1 was found to inhibit the target pathogen by 71.22% followed by BIRB8 causing 66.92% inhibition of the pathogen.