Survey of Bacillus SPP. Isolates for Biological Control of White Rotof Garlic Caused by Sclerotium Cepivorum Under in Vitro and Greenhouse Conditions

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, University of Kordestan, Iran

2 Former MSc. Student, Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, University of Kordestan, Iran

3 Associate Professor, Department of Plant Protection, University of Bu Ali Sina, Hamedan, Iran

Abstract

Sclerotium cepivorum incited white rot is one of the destructive diseases of garlic in
Hamedan Province. A total number of 175 Bacillus strains were isolated from soil and from
garlic rhizospheres. The antagonism of the bacterial isolates against Sclerotium cepivorum was
evaluated using dual culture method. Ten high level activity isolates which produced inhibition
zones were selected for further study. Physiological, biochemical, and morphological
characteristics of the isolates revealed that they belonged to the species of Bacillus. Antifungal
activity of the liquid and volatile metabolites produced by the bacterial isolates on pathogen
and as well, their ability to produce the enzyme protease and hydrogen cyanide were studied.
All the isolates produced volatile as well as liquid metabolites, reducing disease significance
through their different effects. Isolates B9, B21 and B12 produced protease, but none produced
hydrogen cyanide. The antagonistic activity of bacterial isolates was evaluated against the
pathogen, employing soil and seed treatment methods. Greenhouse trial results indicated that
all the isolates were able to control the severity of the disease, but isolates B12, B21, B3, B20,
and B9 showed their effects in either one of the experimental methods more than 73% Isolates
B3 and B21 showed the most effects on reduction of the disease (73-83.3%). All the isolates
significantly (P≤0.01) promoted growth factors in garlic plant.

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