Formulation of Enterobacter cloacae HSTUB 12 for the management of anthracnose of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)

Abstract

A significant loss in yield is attributed to anthracnose of chili, which is caused by Colletotrichum capsici. The study aimed to develop a formulated bio- fungicide using Enterobacter cloacae HSTUB 12 and various substrate for the efficient and eco-friendly management of anthracnose of chilli under field condition. Enterobacter cloacae was formulated with charcoal, maize bran, wood dust, soybean bran and pea bran. Among all of the formulated bio- fungicides, charcoal-based formulated E. cloacae HSTUB 12 followed by spraying of E. cloacae HSTUB 12 suspension showed the maximum reduction of anthracnose incidence (17.2, 19.67%) and severity (22.33, 21.41%) in Bijlee plus and Roshni, respectively). Higher plant height (74.13 and 80.13 cm), maximum number of branch per plant (39 and 41), maximum number of flower per plant (102 and 103), highest number of fruit per plant (67 and 84), highest shoot weight (253 and 244 g), highest root length (26.70 and 28 cm), highest root weight (28.14, 36 g), highest yield per plant (2.5, 2.6 kg/plant), highest fruit length (13.17 and 14.13 cm), maximum fruit diameter (5.43 and 5.20 cm), higher accumulation of phenol content (4.65 and 4.78 mg/100g), higher content of total soluble solids (12.63 and 14.43 °Brix), higher content of ascorbic acid (11.82 and 8.3 mg/g) was exhibited by the implementation of charcoal-based formulated E. cloacae HSTUB 12 in Bijlee plus and Roshni, respectively. The prepared formulations were kept in two several storage environments: (A) a refrigerator(40C), (B) a wooden shelve(at room temperature). By using serial dilution technique, charcoal-based formulation showed highest bacterial colony in refrigerator and pea bran-based formulation in wooden shelve which increased from 400 to 999 and from 265 to 712, respectively and this process was continued up to 240 days after incubation (DAI) at 30 days intervals. The study's finding showed that charcoal-based formulated E. cloacae HSTUB 12 could be used to manage anthracnose of chili in the field.