Tomato cultivation is frequently hindered by vascular wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici. The use of chemicals for control of the disease generates imbalances in the microbial population and show the way for the development of resistant strains of the pathogen. Thus, we have to look for the viable and alternative strategy for management of this pathogen. Hence the investigations were carried out using plant growth promoting rhizobacteria Bacillus for the management of Fusarial wilt. New techniques including detection of lipopeptides, development of liquid based bioformulation were used to understand the molecular mechanisms of biocontrol agent. For sure the above studies would lead to the development of chemical free pathogen management strategies for a sustainable agriculture

Dr. SA. Ramyabharathi was awarded Ph.D (2014) in Plant Pathology from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India. Her major area of research is Biological control of plant pathogens and Molecular Plant Pathology. She awarded PR-verma Best M.Sc thesis (2013) from Indian society of Mycology and plant pathology, Rajasthan, India.