title: Bacillus-based biocontrol of fusarium disease on tomato cultures in Burundi.
abstract: The biocontrol potential of a Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacterium (PGPR) Bacillus subtilis S499 on tomato was studied in open field sites in low attitude area of the plain of Imbo in Burundi. Application of the PGPR strain on seed before sowing have significantly increased growth and fruit yield of tomato plants in addition to its remarkable control of a local important disease caused by a fungus type-Fusarium.. This pathogen causing large tosses in Burundi tomato plantings is closely related to Fusarium semitectum based on a preliminary identification. Results obtained in open field assays from two successive years on the same site demonstrate that treatment with B. subtilis S499 strain suspensions significantly increase growth and fruit-yield and provided a high level of protection of tomato plantings against the new fungal disease apparently uncontrolled by routine chemical pesticides.
authors.affiliation: Walloon Centre of Industrial Biology, Gembloux Agricultural University, Passage des Déportés, 2, BE-5030 Gembloux, Belgium. venant.nihorimbere@gmail.com
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nihorimbere
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ongena
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cawoy
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Brostaux
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kakana
authors.forename: Ph
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thonart
mesh_terms: D000531:Altitude; D001407:Bacillus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D002063:Burundi / Q000453:epidemiology; D002980:Climate; D005670:Fusarium / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D015994:Incidence; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000382:microbiology*; D009181:Mycoses / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control