Single and Combined Commercial Biocontrol Products for Chickpea Fusarium Wilt: In Vitro and Greenhouse Evaluation

Fusarium wilt of chickpea, mainly caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris (FOC), is a major constraint that can trigger progressive chlorosis, wilting, and root rot, resulting in substantial losses. This study aimed to provide an integrated evaluation of commercially available biocontrol products applied singly and in combinations against FOC under in vitro and greenhouse (in vivo) conditions. Antagonistic activity in dual-culture assays was quantified using the Percent Inhibition of Radial Growth (PIRG), while greenhouse trials were conducted following inoculation with FOC race 2 and subsequent application of commercial products at label-recommended doses (e.g., Planter-Box 0.6 ml/L; Companion 5 ml/L; Cedriks 0.3 ml/L). Disease severity was assessed over six weeks using a 0–5 scale based on chlorosis and root rot symptoms. In dual-culture tests, the highest inhibition was obtained with T. harzianum (1585) (43.85% PIRG), whereas the lowest inhibition was observed with P. fluorescens (Pf1) (15.84% PIRG). Under greenhouse conditions, the Planter-Box + Cedriks combination produced the strongest suppression of chlorosis, reducing severity by 69.97%. For root rot, the single application of Cedriks reduced severity by 53.81%. Overall, the findings indicate that selecting commercial biocontrol agents should be framed as a symptom- and strategy-specific decision (chlorosis vs. root rot; single vs. combined applications) rather than a one-size-fits-all choice. This integrated evidence supports practical greenhouse-level decision-making for chickpea wilt management.