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Biocontrol Efficacy of Bacillus subtilis Strains Isolated from Cow Dung Against Postharvest Yam (Dioscorea rotundata L.) Pathogens

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Abstract

The biocontrol potential of Bacillus subtilis isolated from cow dung microflora was investigated in vitro and in vivo against two postharvest yam pathogenic fungi, Fusarium oxysporum and Botryodiplodia theobromae. B. subtilis strains inhibited the growth of F. oxysporum and B. theobromae in vitro in liquid medium in the range of 49.3–56.6% and in solid medium in the range of 31.0–36.0%, in comparison to the corresponding growth of fungi without bacterial inoculation. The interaction between B. subtilis CM1 and F. oxysporum was also studied by scanning electron microscopy. Chitinase production was demonstrated in vitro when B. subtilis was grown in the presence of colloidal chitin as the sole carbon source in a liquid medium. In vivo study showed that B. subtilis strains inhibited the growth of fungi (F. oxysporum and B. thobromae) up to 83% in wound cavities of yam tubers.

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Acknowledgment

Financial assistance from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, India (No. 8[39]/2003-Hort.II, 7 June 2004), is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (Regional Centre), Dumuduma Housing Board, Bhubaneswar, 751019, India

    M. R. Swain & R. C. Ray

  2. National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow, 226001, India

    C. S. Nautiyal

Authors
  1. M. R. Swain
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  2. R. C. Ray
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  3. C. S. Nautiyal
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Correspondence to R. C. Ray.

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Swain, M.R., Ray, R.C. & Nautiyal, C.S. Biocontrol Efficacy of Bacillus subtilis Strains Isolated from Cow Dung Against Postharvest Yam (Dioscorea rotundata L.) Pathogens. Curr Microbiol 57, 407–411 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-008-9213-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-008-9213-x

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