Integrated control of blister blight disease in tea using the biocontrol agent Ochrobactrum anthropi strain BMO‐111 with chemical fungicides

Aims The present study was aimed to evaluate the integration of Ochrobactrum anthropi BMO‐111 and chemical fungicides (copper oxychloride and hexaconazole) against blister blight disease of tea. Methods and Results Application of the liquid culture of O. anthropi BMO‐111 (36‐h‐old culture broth) was found to be effective in combined sprays with individual chemical fungicides (copper oxychloride and hexaconazole). Spray application of O. anthropi BMO‐111 to tea bushes improved the biochemical parameters such as the levels of chlorophyll, polyphenols, and catechins in the harvestable tea shoots. Moreover, in the microplot and large scale trials, the integrated treatment of every two O. anthropi BMO‐111 sprays followed by a single fungicides spray was found to be more efficient than the stand alone O. anthropi BMO‐111 or chemicals sprays. Further, pathogenicity study employing Swiss albino mice showed no mortality in the test animals when challenged with O. anthropi BMO‐111 through oral, intravenous and intranasal routes. Conclusions The field trials clearly established that O. anthropi BMO‐111 has capability to reduce incidence in integrated management of blister blight disease of tea and safe to use in the field. Significance and Impact of the Study The results indicate that O. anthropi BMO‐111 can be used as an agricultural input in the integrated crop protection systems.