Abstract:
Object Microbes with potential of being used as biological control agents against the southern blight and root rot diseases on Siraitia grosvenorii were screened and identified from the rhizosphere soil in the field.
Method A total of 114 strains of presumably antagonistic microorganisms were isolated from the soil at a S. grosvenorii orchard by means of dilution coating and streaking. The isolates were screened for their antibacterial activity using the plate confrontation method, and subsequently, identified by 16S rDNA sequence analysis along with observations on the colony morphology and microbial physiochemical characteristics.
Result Twenty-two isolated strains displayed varying degrees of inhibition effect on one or both root rot and southern blight pathogens. They included the bacteria under the coded names of TYX-2, TYX-3, TYX-4, TYX-7, and TYX-8 with inhibition rates on the root rot of 67.53%, 57.50%, 64.17%, 60.00%, and 66.67%, respectively, and on the southern blight with the rates of 83.03%, 87.58%, 53.31%, 82.27%, and 86.67%, respectively. TYX-2, TYX-7, and TYX-8 were identified to be Bacillus velezia, TYX-3 B. subtilis, and TYX-4 B. amyloliquefaciens. The fermentation broths of TYX-2, TYX-3, and TYX-4 also showed significant inhibition rates on the root rot pathogen at 47.83%, 48.67%, and 45.83%, respectively, and 52.00%, 50.42%, and 55.83% on the southern blight.
Conclusion The isolated B. velez, B. subtilis, and B. amyloliquefaciens strains displayed significant inhibitory effects on the root rot and southern blight of S. grosvenorii. They could be studied further for a potential application as agents for biocontrol on the diseases.