Influence of liquid formulations of beneficial microorganisms on biocontrol efficiency, seedling vigour index and growth of spinach (Spinacia oleracea) under green house condition

The study was conducted at Department of Agricultural Microbiology, UAS, GKVK, Bangalore. There were eight treatments replicated thrice in CRD design. Liquid bioinoculants used in this study were vizAzotobacter chroococcum Bacillus megaterium Frateuria aurantia, Psuedomonas fluorescens, Bacillus subtilis and Trichoderma viridae as single inoculation and also as consortia. Treatment T₈ (Pathogens+ Bacillus subtilis + Pseudomonas fluorescens + Trichoderma viride) recorded maximum biocontrol efficiency (82.92%) and vigour index (1997.42) followed by T₇ (58.91% and 1707.87). Growth parameter like maximum plant height (5.80 cm at 15 DAS, 15.57 cm at 21 DAS and 37.03 cm at 30 DAS) was recorded in T₅. Maximum number of leaves (5.30 at 15 DAS, 9.47 at 21 DAS and 12.97 at 30 DAS) was recorded in T5 which received consortia of Azotobacter chroococcum, Bacillus megaterium, Frateuria aurantia, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus subtilis and Trichoderma viride. Maximum root length, shoot length, plant fresh weight and plant dry weight were 10.40 cm, 37.03 cm, 9.37 g and 3.27g, respectively, recorded in T₅ followed by single inoculation and control treatments.