Evaluation of mechanism of plant protective attributes of root colonizing bacteria against phytopathogenic fungi

Chandni Upadhyaya and Ishita Patel

Abstract: A presented study was commenced to assess the plant protective mode of actions of root colonizing bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis against phytopathogens Fusarium oxysporum and Rhizoctonia solani. The dual inoculation assay showed the antagonistic effect of B. subtilis and B. licheniformis on both the fungal pathogens. Although, B. licheniformis revealed higher percent inhibition against R. solani (97.21±0.15%) and F. oxysporum (70.00±1.20%) than B. subtilis. Lipopeptides and volatile compounds produced by both Bacillus strains & responsible for biocontrol activity were determined by using HPTLC and GC-MS analysis respectively. The biocontrol treated Vigna radiata seeds were checked for the rate of seed germination in presence of a pathogen which revealed 4.26 fold greater disease resistance in seeds treated with both the bacterial strains in combination compared to untreated seeds and 12.73% higher resistance than chemical fungicide carbendazim (1mg/l) drenched seeds. Consequently, biocontrol formulation from selected bacterial strains can be applied to protect plants from fungal diseases.

Keywords: biocontrol; phytopathogenic fungi; root colonizing bacteria

Date published: 2022-03-11