We studied the effect of Bacillus subtillis and Trichoderma harzianum Rifai, in commercial formulations, alone or in mixture, on soluble protein content, -1, 3-glucnase enzyme activity and suppression of Fusarium wilt disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp ciceris in Hashem and Pirooz chickpea cultivars. Experiment was conducted in a factorial experiment based on randomized complete design with three replications under controlled greenhouse condition with aggressive isolate of F. oxysporum f.sp ciceris and B. subtillis, T. harzianum treatments in liquid and seed coating inoculation methods. Disease severity was significantly reduced by B. subtillis, T. harzianum and their mixtures (about 40%). Although the combination of these bio-control agents was effective in controlling Fusarium wilt disease but did not differ significantly from bio-control treatments individually. Hashem cultivar exhibited significantly higher level of resistance compared to Pirooz cultivar after inoculation with bio-control agents. Significantly higher levels of soluble protein content and -1, 3-glucnase activity was observed in chickpea cultivars after inoculation with B. subtillis, T. harzianum compared to control. Hashem cultivar exhibited significantly higher levels of soluble protein content and -1, 3-glucnase activity in compared to Pirooz cultivar, which apparently associated with establishment higher level of resistance to Fusarium wilt. Results of this study indicated that B. subtillis and T. harzianum effectively suppress the Fusarium wilt and increasing the protein content and -1, 3-glucnase enzyme activity might have contributed to inducing systemic resistance after treatment with bio-control agents.Application of B. subtilis and T. harzianum either singly or in combination in both seed and liquid inoculation methods protect chickpea from F. oxysporum f.sp ciceris infection indicating that the importance of application of biocontrol agents.
