Biological Control of Fusarium Wilt in Chili Pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.) using Antagonistic Bacteria

Background and Objective: Fusarium wilt is a major constraint in cayenne pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.) cultivation, causing significant yield losses. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of antagonistic bacteria in controlling Fusarium wilt and to compare the efficacy of three bacterial species-Acetobacter xylinum, Bacillus subtilis, and Pseudomonas fluorescens-at different concentrations. Materials and Methods: The experiment was conducted under controlled greenhouse conditions. Plant growth and disease parameters, including plant height, leaf number, wilted and yellow leaves, fruit number, and root biomass, were recorded. Bacterial treatments were applied at concentrations of 10⁶, 10⁷, and 10⁸ CFU/mL. Data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) followed by Duncan’s multiple range test at the 5% significance level. Results: Bacterial treatments significantly affected several growth and disease parameters. Pseudomonas fluorescens at 10⁸ CFU/mL was the most effective, suppressing Fusarium wilt symptoms and enhancing leaf number and fruit yield compared to other treatments. Conclusion: Antagonistic bacteria, particularly Pseudomonas fluorescens, show strong potential as eco-friendly biological control agents for Fusarium wilt in cayenne pepper. These findings support their use in sustainable crop management strategies.