Open AccessAntifungal activity of indigenous Bacillus spp. isolated from soil
Author(s) -
Dragana Bjelić,
Maja Ignjatov,
Jelena Marinković,
Nemanja Spremo,
Maja Karaman,
Zorica Nikolić,
Žarko Ivanović
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
zbornik matice srpske za prirodne nauke
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2406-0828
pISSN - 0352-4906
DOI - 10.2298/zmspn1733261b
Subject(s) - biology , bacillus pumilus , bacillus megaterium , bacillus (shape) , rhizobacteria , fusarium , biological pest control , fusarium oxysporum , bacillus subtilis , microbiology and biotechnology , fusarium proliferatum , bacteria , botany , rhizosphere , genetics
Biocontrol using plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) represents an alternative approach to disease management, since PGPR are known to promote growth and reduce diseases in various crops. Among the different PGPR, members of the genus Bacillus are prefered for most biotechnological uses due to their capability to form extremely resistant spores and produce a wide variety of metabolites with antimicrobial activity. The objective of this research was to identify antagonistic bacteria for management of the plant diseases. Eleven isolates of Bacillus spp. were obtained from the soil samples collected from different localities in the Province of Vojvodina. The antifungal activity of bacterial isolates against five fungal species was examined using a dual plate assay. Bacillus isolates exhibited the highest antifungal activity against Fusarium proliferatum, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cepae and Alternaria padwickii, while they had the least antagonistic effect on Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium graminearum. Molecular identification showed that effective bacterial isolates were identified as Bacillus safensis (B2), Bacillus pumilus (B3, B11), Bacillus subtilis (B5, B7) and Bacillus megaterium (B8, B9). The highest antagonistic activity was exhibited by isolates B5 (from 39% to 62% reduction in fungal growth) and B7 (from 40% to 71% reduction in fungal growth). These isolates of B. subtilis could be used as potential biocontrol agents of plant diseases.