Exploitation of indigenous fluorescent pseudomonads against stem and pod rot of groundnut caused by <i>Sclerotium rolfsii</i>

Stem and pod rot of groundnut is an economically important soil borne disease caused by Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. The present study aimed to evaluate the indigenous bacterial bio control agent Pseudomonas fluorescens strains having multiple traits related plant growth promoting activity. Healthy rhizospheric from field was collected different North Karnataka districts. Nineteen P. were isolated serial dilution technique on King’s B medium. antagonistic potential nineteen tested against S. using dual culture technique. per cent inhibition highly variable among ranging 2.59 75.18 cent. Maximum mycelial recorded strain PF-2 (75.18%) followed PF-3 (72.96%), PF-6 (69.62%) least PF-13 (2.59%). Five superior showed under UV light, yellowish green pigmentation, rod shaped cells microscope. subjected for various biochemical tests all isolates positive characterization such as Gram staining, endospore production, catalase, starch hydrolysis, urease test, casein hydrolysis gelatin liquefy action negative KOH in dole test. Further, these HCN IAA siderophore production volatile compounds production. Among these, strainsviz., scored strong with respect antagonism promotion. strainsPF-6, PF-7 PF-10 moderate light brown colour. fluorescens, higher siderophore, PF-6, siderophore. highest indicating compounds, PF-6. Whereas, isolate less compounds.