Combined effect of Pseudomonas putida and Paecilomyces lilacinus in the management of disease complex in Gladiolus grandiflorus L.*

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the combined effect of Pseudomonas putida Trevisan, and Paecilomyces lilacinus Thom. et Samson on the disease complex of Gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus L.) caused by Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid et White et Chitwood) and Fusarium oxysporium Schelecht. f.sp. gladioli (Masey) Snyder & hans., under field conditions. Vermicompost enriched with P. putida and P. lilacinus formulations were evaluated for the efficacy individually and in combination under field conditions. Two kg of P. putida or P. lilacinus were used for the enrichment of vermicompost (200 kg) which was applied to the beds at the rate of 50 g/m² as a substrate treatment before sowing the corms. Corms of Gladiolus (cv. White prosperity) were also treated with the suspension of P. putida and P. lilacinus enriched in vermicompost for 5–10 min. Results indicated that combination treatment of P. putida (2x10⁸/ml) and P. lilacinus (2x10⁶/ml) was more effective when compared with all other treatments. These treatments increased the plant growth and rhizospheric colonization of both bio-agents significantly and reduced the disease incidence of M. incognita and F. oxysporium f. sp. gladioli by 66% and 57% respectively. There was also a significant increase in the yield of the crop which was to the tune of 23%.