Biological control of Botrytis cinerea and plant growth promotion potential by Penicillium citrinum in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Abstract

A total of 48 fungi were characterised for their antagonistic potential against Botrytis cinerea causing Botrytis Gray Mold (BGM) disease in chickpea by dual culture and metabolite production assays. The culture filtrate of the most promising isolate, VFI-51, was purified by various chromatographic techniques and identified as ‘citrinin’ by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry studies. The efficacy of citrinin was demonstrated to control BGM in chickpea under greenhouse conditions. The sequences of 18S rDNA gene of the VFI-51 matched with Penicillium citrinum in BLAST analysis. The VFI-51 produced siderophore, hydrocyanic acid, indole-3-acetic acid, lipase, protease and β-1,3-glucanase; grew well in NaCl (up to 15%), at pH between 7 and 11 and temperatures between 20°C and 40°C; and was compatible with fungicides bavistin and thiram. Under greenhouse and field conditions, VFI-51 significantly enhanced the nodule number, nodule weight, root and shoot weight and stover and grain yield over the un-inoculated control. In the rhizosphere, VFI-51 also significantly enhanced total N, available P and OC over the un-inoculated control. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed that VFI-51 colonised on the roots of chickpea. This study concluded that VFI-51 has the potential for biocontrol of BGM and plant growth promotion in chickpea.

Keywords:

• Penicillium citrinum
• citrinin
• biocontrol
• Botrytis Gray Mold
• plant growth promotion
• chickpea

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Council of Scientific and Industrial Research New Delhi, India, for the financial support given to Sreevidya during her research work.This work was undertaken as part of the CGIAR Research programme on Grain Legumes. ICRISAT is a member of CGIAR Consortium. We would also like to thank ICRISAT and all of the staff members of the biocontrol unit, including P.V.S. Prasad, P. Manohar, B. Nagappa, D. Barath and A. Jabbar, for their significant inputs in the laboratory and field experiments.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.