Effect of Bacillus subtilis on suppression of disease complex in bell pepper (Capsicum annum L.)

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of Bacillus subtilis (Cohn) formulation, on the disease complex of bell pepper (Capsicum annum L.) caused by Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid et White et Chitwood) with the bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum, under field conditions. A method for the management of this disease complex, was standardized by the use of B. subtilis 1% W.P. 20g for the seed (1 kg) treatment, 10 g for treating 1 kg of substrate (coco peat) or 50 g for treating 1 m² nursery bed and 2 kg for the enrichment of vermicompost (200 kg) which was applied at the rate of 50 g/m² as a substrate treatment before transplanting bell pepper seedlings. This method reduced significantly the population of M. incognita and the disease incidence of R. solanacearum. This bio-pesticide significantly increased plant growth parameters (shoot and root length) and also crop yield to the tune of 66%.