M.Tejashree1, S. Triveni, J . Sai Prasad, P. Samata, D. Sridevi Roots, Plant, Growth-promoting rhizobacteria, nematode,chilli 82-84 Volume 2 (4) July 2026 Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) is among Indiaand#39;s most economically important spice and vegetable crops. Its cultivation, however, is seriously constrained by the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita and M. javanica, which invade roots and induce characteristic galls. These galls impair water and nutrient uptake and create wounds through which secondary pathogens such as Fusarium and Ralstonia enter, converting a nematode problem into a disease complex that can cause severe yield loss.