Vol. 9, Issue 5, Part A (2025)

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), a vital pulse crop, plays a significant role in sustainable agriculture and nutrition due to its high protein content and nitrogen-fixing ability. However, its productivity is severely affected by dry root rot (DRR) caused by Rhizoctonia bataticola, a soil-borne pathogen thriving in warm, dry conditions. This study focused on characterizing DRR and evaluating bio-control agents for disease management. Symptomatic root samples were collected from multiple locations, surface-sterilized, and cultured on PDA to isolate the pathogen. Microscopic examination confirmed R. bataticola through characteristic black sclerotia and right-angled hyphae. Pathogenicity was verified using the sick-pot method, where infected soil induced typical DRR symptoms in susceptible chickpea cultivar BG-212 under greenhouse conditions. Four Trichoderma species (T. aureoviride, T. harzianum, T. asperellum, and T. longibrachiatum) were tested against R. bataticola in dual culture assays. T. asperellum exhibited the highest inhibition (67.44%), followed by T. harzianum (66.67%) and T. aureoviride (63.88%), while T. longibrachiatum showed the least suppression (62.22%). These findings suggest that Trichoderma species, particularly T. asperellum, could serve as effective bio-control agents against DRR, offering a sustainable alternative to chemical management. The study underscores the potential of bio-agents in integrated disease management strategies for chickpea cultivation.