Greenhouse evaluation of microbial consortia against sucking pest complex of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)

Abstract

The present study evaluated the greenhouse efficacy of microbial consortia comprising actinobacteria, Pseudomonas spp. and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) against the major sucking pest complex of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.), including thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis), aphids (Aphis gossypii), and whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci). The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with twelve treatments, including individual and combined microbial formulations and a chemical check (Diafenthiuron 50% WP). Insects were artificially introduced, and pest counts were recorded at 30, 60, and 90 days after transplanting. Among all treatments, the microbial consortium T5 (DBT 64 + AUDT 502 + AUDP 279) consistently showed the highest suppression of all three pest species—reducing thrips, whiteflies, and aphids by 56.96%, 64.55%, and 48.78%, respectively. This efficacy is attributed to synergistic effects enhancing induced systemic resistance (ISR) and secondary metabolite production. While the insecticide achieved maximum suppression, microbial treatments offered comparable results with long-term ecological benefits. Lecanicillium lecanii also showed promising biocontrol potential under controlled conditions. The findings demonstrate that microbial consortia are effective, eco-friendly alternatives for managing sucking pests in chilli and hold strong potential for integration into sustainable pest management frameworks.