Bio-efficacy of endophytic actinomycetes for plant growth promotion and management of bacterial wilt in tomato

Antagonistic effect of endophytic actinomycetes isolated from tomato plants collected from different locations in Kerala was evaluated against bacterial wilt pathogen under in vivo conditions. Maximum inhibition (44.63%) of the pathogen was observed with Cherumkuzhy isolate (EACK) which was on par with Ozhalapathy isolate (EAOP) (42.59%). All the isolates belonged to genus Streptomyces sp. Evaluation of endophytic actinomycetes against bacterial wilt pathogen under pot culture conditions revealed that minimum per cent wilt incidence (37.03%) was shown by plants treated with EAOP isolate. Observations on biometric characters showed that Ozhalapathy (EAOP) and Eruthenpathy (EAET) isolates were the most promising in plant growth promotion. It was concluded from the study that the Ozhalapathy isolate (EAOP) (Streptomyces sp.) was the best among the five endophytic actinomycetes isolates in plant growth promotion as well as in the management of bacterial wilt in tomato.