Bacillus subtilis subsp. spizizenii MB29 controls alfalfa root rot caused by Fusarium semitectum |
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| Authors: | Zhaohui Wen Tingyu Duan Michael J Christensen |
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| Institution: | 1. State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, Lanzhou, P.R. China;2. College of Pastoral Agricultural Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, P.R. China;3. Central Laboratory of Technical Center, Gansu Exit-Entry Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Lanzhou, P.R. China |
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| Abstract: | Medicago sativa L. is the most important forage legume in China. Reducing production losses caused by disease is an essential aspect of maximising alfalfa production. In the current study a Fusarium semitectum isolate collected from alfalfa roots exhibiting symptoms of root rot was proven to infect alfalfa by fulfilling Koch's postulates. A bacterial strain, MB29, also collected from alfalfa roots, was evaluated as a potential biocontrol agent against F. semitectum and a range of other alfalfa pathogens using in vitro tests. It was found that MB29 reduced the mycelia growth of all the pathogens assessed, and in the case of F. semitectum by as much as 84.47%. Furthermore, in vivo test showed that MB29 reduced the severity of rot symptoms in alfalfa seedlings resulting from F. semitectum infection. Strain MB29 was subsequently classified as Bacillus subtilis subsp. spizizenii using the Biolog MicroLog microbial identification system and sequence analysis of its 16S rDNA gene. Taken together these results indicate that B. subtilis subsp. spizizenii MB29 has great potential for the control of root rot diseases in alfalfa. |
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| Keywords: | Bacillus subtilis subsp spizizenii antifungal activity Medicago sativa Fusarium semitectum biocontrol |
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