Biochemical characterization of fluorescent Pseudomonas species isolated from normal and replant sites of apple orchards

Replant disease of apple is the primary biological impediment to the establishment of an economically viable orchard on sites previously cultivated of this crop. The disease has been becoming very serious problem in horticultural crops. Under the present study a total of 19 isolates of fluorescent Pseudomonas sp were isolated from the rhizosphere of normal and replant sites of apple orchards in Chamba, Kullu, Mandi and Shimla districts of Himachal Pradesh. Fluorescent pseudomonads which are major component of rhizobacteria promote the plant growth through their multifarious activities. These isolates were characterized by standard morphological and biochemical methods.