Abstract:
Objective Inhibitory activities and antagonistic mechanisms of Bacillus velezensi (Bv) strains against certain soil-borne pathogens were studied in search for new venues of biological disease control.
Method Antagonism of 6 Bv strains, NN01, NN02, NN04, NN05, NN88, and NN95, on 7 soil-borne pathogens, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Scleritium rolfsii, Botrytis cinerea, Rhizoctonia solani, and Phytophthora nicotianae, were studied using a plate confrontation test. Morphological responses of the pathogen mycelia to the Bv strains were observed under an optic microscope, and the control efficacy verified in vitro on mulberry and lettuce leaves. Activities of the extracellular enzymes (e.g., cellulase, protease, and β-1,3-glucanase) produced by the Bv strains were identified with differential media, and 10 antibiotic-related genes (i.e., mycB, fenB, ituA, sfp, bamC, Erisa, spaS, bacA, yndJ, and Qk ) in the bacteria detected by PCR amplification with specific primers.
Result To varying extents the 6 Bv strains inhibited the mycelia growth of the 6 target pathogens. The strongest effect was shown on S. rolfsii. NN01, NN02, NN04, and NN88 displayed inhibition rates ranging from 40.56% to 56.30% on F. oxysporum. The appearance of mycelia on edge of inhibition rings changed significantly with broken, leaking intracellular substances, and darked color. In vitro the Bv strains significantly inhibited disease development on the plant leaves by S. sclerotiorum with a control effect of 53.40-71.32% and 43.57-65.68% by S. rolfsii, which were higher than or equal to the inhibition by B. subtilis. All 6 Bv strains secreted proteases and cellulases with the presence of 5 lipopeptide antibiotic-related genes (i.e., mycB, fenB, ituA, bacA, and yndJ), except no fenB found in NN95.
Conclusion All 6 Bv strains had varying inhibitory effects against the 7 soil-borne pathogens. They showed extracellular protease and cellulase activities, and almost all of them carried 5 lipopeptide antibiotic-related genes. These Bv strains could potentially be applied as biocontrol agents for control of diseases caused by the soil-borne pathogens.