Pseudomonas as a Prospective Candidate For Minimization in use of Chemical Pesticides or their Gradual Replacement with Biocontrol Agents on Agricultural Fields

Isolates of Pseudomonas species obtained from rhizosphere, rhizoplane and endophytic habitats of various plants were tested for their antagonistic activity against plant pathogenic Fusarium oxysporum isolated from the roots of a diseased pea plant. Pseudomonas isolate P5 showed best activity against F. oxysporum followed by P4, P22 and P17. Some isolates of Pseudomonas, P24, P25 and P26, grew unrestrictedly and completely covered the Fusarium colony. The antagonistic effect of Pseudomonas on F. oxysporum observed in this research can be attributed to the ability of antibiotic synthesis by Pseudomonas and also the ability to counter the toxic metabolites of Fusarium oxysporum.