Effect of Bacillus velezensis capsuled with alginate on plant growth indexes and improve of resistance under Rhizoctonia solani -stress in tomato

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of plant production, Gorgan University of Agricultural sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan , Iran

2 PhD graduate in Plant Pathology, Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of plant production, Gorgan University of Agricultural sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan , Iran

10.22059/ijpps.2026.409908.1007106

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the stability of a biocontrol agent and develop one to achieve the highest survival percentage and effectiveness of Bacillus velezensis. The effect of the B. velezensis capsule formulation on the growth of tomato plants and the plant defense mechanism against Rhizoctonia solani were assessed. Capsules were produced using the ionic gelation method. Seeds of tomatoes inoculated with capsulated or non‑capsulated B. velezensis were planted in soil artificially infected with R. solani. After 40 days, plant growth parameters, damping‑off incidence of seedlings, and antioxidant activity variations were assessed. A factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with 4 replications was conducted. The viability of capsulated B. velezensis, following 90 days at both 25 °C and 35 °C, was determined to be 58% and 53%, respectively, indicating the positive effect of capsules in enhancing bacterial viability and resistance compared to the non-capsule form. Greenhouse experiments showed capsulated B. velezensis inhibited disease incidence compared to the non-capsulated formulation. Capsulated B. velezensis exhibited extreme differences in growth parameters with the control. Most notable among them was root and shoot length. The results highlighted the advantages of B. velezensis and its capsule formulation towards enforcing resistance against damping-off disease and promoting growth parameters in tomato plants. This approach can be proposed as a biotechnological tool to induce plant growth promotion and stress tolerance against R. solani.

Keywords

Iranian Journal of Plant Protection Science

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 23 January 2026

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History

  • Receive Date: 21 January 2026
  • Revise Date:
  • Accept Date: 23 January 2026

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