Isolation and characterization of Bacillus licheniformis EM and its antagonistic effect against some important plant pathogens

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Botany, Faculty of Science. Damanhour University. Damanhour.

2 Department of Pesticide Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, 21545-El-Shatby, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt,

10.21608/jpces.2011.460827

Abstract

The antagonistic action of a newly isolated bacterium derived from an agricultural waste canal was evaluated against some economic plant pathogens. The isolate was characterized using API 20E commercial kit and molecularly identified by partial sequencing of the 16S rDNA. The phylogenetic analysis strongly related the isolate to Bacillus licheniformis EM. The antimicrobial activity of this isolate was evaluated in vitro against bacteria of crown gall Agrobacterium tumefaciens and soft mold Pectobacterium carotovorum and fungi of leaf spots and blights Alternaria alternata, grey mold Botrytis cinerea, root rot disease Fusarium oxysporum and damping off disease Pythium debaryanum. The results showed different susceptibility among the pathogens when serial concentrations of B. licheniformis EM late exponential phase cultures were used. Out of seven concentrations tested, the most significant antagonistic action was shown by 100, 200 and 300gl of bacterial suspension/20 ml NA medium. which showed almost complete inhibition against the tested bacteria. All the tested concentrations of B. licheniformis EM ranged from 20 to 500 gl/20ml PDA medium completely prevent fungi of A. alternata and P. debaryanum to grow. Therefore, the study suggests that B. licheniformis EM can be used as a potential biocontrol agent and recommend it for commercial formulations.

Keywords

Journal of Pest Control and Environmental Sciences
Volume 19, Issue 1
2011
Pages 69-85

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