Antagonistic and Plant Growth-Promoting Effects of Bacillus velezensis BS1 Isolated from Rhizosphere Soil in a Pepper Field

• Published in: The plant pathology journal Vol. 37; no. 3; pp. 307 - 314
• Main Authors: Shin, Jong-Hwan, Park, Byung-Seoung, Kim, Hee-Yeong, Lee, Kwang-Ho, Kim, Kyoung Su
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 한국식물병리학회 01.06.2021; Korean Society of Plant Pathology
• Subjects: 농학; biological control; Colletotrichum scovillei; plant growth-promoting bacteria; Bacillus velezensis
• ISSN: 1598-2254; 2093-9280
• DOI: 10.5423/PPJ.NT.03.2021.0053

Pepper ( Capsicum annuum L.) is an important agricultural crop worldwide. Recently, Colletotrichum scovillei , a member of the C. acutatum species complex, was reported to be the dominant pathogen causing pepper anthracnose disease in South Korea. In the present study, we isolated bacterial strains from rhizosphere soil in a pepper field in Gangwon Province, Korea, and assessed their antifungal ability against C. scovillei strain KC05. Among these strains, a strain named BS1 significantly inhibited mycelial growth, appressorium formation, and disease development of C. scovillei . By combined sequence analysis using 16S rRNA and partial gyrA sequences, strain BS1 was identified as Bacillus velezensis , a member of the B. subtilis species complex. BS1 produced hydrolytic enzymes (cellulase and protease) and iron-chelating siderophores. It also promoted chili pepper (cv. Nockwang) seedling growth compared with untreated plants. The study concluded that B. velezensis BS1 has good potential as a biocontrol agent of anthracnose disease in chili pepper caused by C. scovillei .