EFFECT OF PLANT GROWTH PROMOTING MICROBIAL CONSORTIUM (PGPM) ON NON TARGETED FUNGI

Bioagents are commonly used to manage plant pathogens. But little is known about their effects on the non target microbial communities that inhabit inside and outside the plant. These treatments may lead to destruction of valuable beneficial microbes which in turn lead to increased vulnerability of crops. Hence, it has become necessary to consider the effect of bioagent pgpm on target and non target microbial communities while formulating disease management strategies. Effect of fungicides on culturable microorganisms can be assessed by serial dilution plating and their effect on non culturable microorganism can be studied only by metagenomic analysis. Metagenomics is a recent technique used for studying microbial communities from their natural environment, without prior culturing. Since metagenomic analysis reveals the diversity of total microbiota in plant including culturables, the loss of valuable microbial diversity can be assessed by the technique.