Indigenous rhizospheric microbes mitigate root-knot disease and promote physiological, biochemical, and defense responses in green gram.

Indigenous rhizospheric microbes significantly reduce root-knot disease and enhance growth and yield in green gram, with some isolates decreasing nematode reproduction by up to 77%.

• Why it matters: Root-knot disease caused by Meloidogyne incognita severely impacts green gram productivity, and sustainable management options are needed to improve crop health and yield without chemical reliance.
• What they did: Researchers isolated and identified eight microbial strains from green gram rhizosphere soils, then evaluated their effectiveness through seed treatments, spore suspensions, and culture filtrates under pot conditions, measuring disease suppression and plant responses.
• The result: Treatments with P. lilacinum and P. chlamydosporia notably reduced nematode galling and reproduction, while other isolates improved plant growth, photosynthesis, and yield, enabling potential commercial biocontrol applications.