Population dynamics of cotton phylloplane bacteria antagonistic towards Xanthomonas campestris pv. malvacearum

Abstract

A cotton phylloplane bacteria (Plb) belonging to the genus Pseudomonas was selected for intensive studies based on its in vitro antagonistic activity against the most predominant and virulent race of X. campestris pv. malvacearum [X. axonopodis pv. malvacearum], the bacterial blight pathogen of cotton. Plb-29 was chosen for its multiplication ability on some Gossypium hirsutum genotypes. On G. hirsutum lines, viz. Acala-44, Stoneville 2B-S9, Stoneville 20 and 1- 10B, Plb-29 could multiply both in the presence and absence of the pathogen. It was capable of reducing pathogen population drastically when co-inoculated with the pathogen by multiplying and heavily colonizing the active multiplication sites of cotton leaves.