Effect of crustacean chitin on the efficacy of plant growth promoting bacteria in the control of root infecting fungi of sunflower and chickpea

Abstract

Soil amendment with crustacean chitin used alone or with Pseudomonas aeruginosa Bacillus subtilis significantly (p<0,05) reduced infection of Rhizoctonia solani Fusarium solani on sunflower and R.solani on chickpea. Crab chitin used alone or with P.aeruginosa or B.subtilis completely controlled the infection of Macrophomina phaseolina on chickpea. Prawn or shrimp powder used 1% w/w of soil was found phytotoxic on chickpea but not on sunflower. Maximum fresh weight of shoot was produced by P.aeruginosa used with shrimp powder in sunflower and with crab chitin in chickpea. P.aeruginosa produced greater plant height in chickpea used with shrimp chitin.