Role of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens Y1 in the control of Fusarium wilt disease and growth promotion of tomato

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens Y1 on the control of Fusarium wilt disease and subsequent improvement in the growth of tomato plants. The Y1 strain strongly inhibited Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici in vitro and also produced indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in both the presence and absence of tryptophan. Over 96% of tomato seeds germinated when treated with either water, tryptone soy broth, or Y1 cultures, whereas root (5.40?cm) and shoot (5.15?cm) lengths were greatest in tomato seedlings treated with Y1 cultures that lacked tryptophan. Three experimental treatments – Black White medium (BW), BW medium with a commercial fungicide (BW?+?F), and Y1 culture inoculated in BW medium (Y1) – were applied to control Fusarium wilt disease under in vivo conditions. Application of Y1 culture and BW?+?F led to significantly lower disease incidence than did BW; moreover, shoot length and fresh and dry weight of both roots and shoots were greater in plants treated with Y1 than in plants treated with either BW or BW?+?F. A similar trend was observed for chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase activities in roots and leaves of tomato plants in all treatment groups over most of the experimental period. Finally, the presence of Y1 in the rhizospheric soils of Y1-treated plants resulted in a significant reduction in the populations of other bacteria. The results of our study demonstrated the effectiveness of Y1 not only in the control of Fusarium wilt disease but also for the enhancement of plant growth in cultivated tomato.