Development and evaluation of water-in-oil formulation of Pseudomonas fluorescens (FP7) against Colletotrichum musae incitant of anthracnose disease in banana

Banana anthracnose incited by Colletotrichum musae (Berk & Curt.) Arx. is a serious disease both in the field and after harvest. Nineteen isolates of antagonistic bacteria and twelve isolates of yeast were screened for the biocontrol activity against this disease. Pseudomonas fluorescens (FP7) had the highest inhibition rate of mycelial growth of C. musae. Water-in-oil formulation of P. fluorescens (FP7) was developed by adding various oils such as coconut (28.50 %), rice bran (28.50 %) and castor (28.50 %) individually to the bacterial culture. Addition of these oils allowed bacterial populations to survive at various levels up to 210 days of storage, the duration of experiment; whereas in the control treatment (NA broth) it survived at high levels only up to 45 days. Biochemical and antibiotic characterization of P. fluorescens (FP7) in water in oil formulation showed more intensity up to 180 days. Two field trials were conducted to standardize the water in oil formulation. The application of water-in-oil formulation significantly increased the yield (63.56 t/ha), and nutritional factors.