title: Biocontrol Potentials of Antimicrobial Peptide ProducingBacillusSpecies: Multifaceted Antagonists for the Management of Stem Rot of Carnation Caused bySclerotinia sclerotiorum.
abstract: Bacillusspecies are widely exploited as biocontrol agents because of their efficiency in impeding various plant pathogens with multifaceted approach. In this study,Bacillusspecies were isolated from rhizosphere of various plants viz., carnations, cotton, turmeric, and bananas in Tamil Nadu state of India. Their potential to control the mycelial growth ofSclerotinia sclerotiorumwas assessedin vitroby dual plate and partition plate techniques.B. amyloliquefaciensstrain VB7 was much effective in inhibiting mycelial growth (45% inhibition of over control) and sclerotial production (100%). PCR detection of AMP genes revealed thatB. amyloliquefaciens(VB7) had a maximum of 10 diverse antibiotic biosynthesis genes, namely,ituD, ipa14, bacA, bacD, bamC, sfP, spaC, spaS, alba, andalbF, that resulted in production of the antibiotics iturin, bacilysin, bacillomycin, surfactin, subtilin, and subtilosin. Further, metabolites fromB. amyloliquefaciensstrains VB2 and VB7, associated with inhibition ofS. sclerotiorum, were identified as phenols and fatty acids by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Delivery of bacterial suspension of the effective strains ofBacillusspp. as root dip was found promising for the management of stem rot of cultivated carnations. Minimal percent disease incidence (4.6%) and maximum plant growth promotion was observed in the plants treated withB. amyloliquefaciens(VB7).
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology, Centre for Plant Protection, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Coimbatore, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vinodkumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology, Centre for Plant Protection, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Coimbatore, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakkeeran
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology, Centre for Plant Protection, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Coimbatore, India.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Renukadevi
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology, Centre for Plant Protection, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Coimbatore, India.
authors.forename: V G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Malathi
keywords: Bacillus; Sclerotinia; anti-microbial peptide genes; antifungal activity; carnation; plant growth promotion