Management of Pea Wilt Incitant by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. pisi (Linford) using AM Fungi Gigaspora margarita Inoculation at various Phosphorus Amendments in Pea (Pisum sativum L.)

The pea (Pisum sativum L.) is an important vegetable and pulse crop in subtropical and temperate areas. The present study investigated the potential of Gigaspora margarita, an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF), as a biocontrol agent against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. pisi (FOP), the pathogen causing pea wilt. Experiments were conducted under pot house conditions at two locations in Punjab (Ludhiana and Abohar) during the rabi season of 2022–2023 to assess the impact of AMF on mycorrhization and disease suppression when co-inoculated with the pathogen.The pre-treating plants with AMF significantly reduced wilt disease incidence compared to inoculating with FOP at sowing followed by AMF application. Early AMF inoculation promoted mycorrhizal colonization, resulting in up to an 86.67% reduction in disease intensity at 40 mg phosphorus per kg of soil. This suggests that soil treatment with AMF before planting is an effective bioprotective strategy against pea wilt.