Biocontrol potential of Bacillus sp. against indigenous fungal phytopathogens of potato and sugarcane

Abstract

Fungal diseases pose significant threats to crops, necessitating

effective control measures to mitigate their impact on agricul- tural productivity. In this study, fungal pathogens affecting

sugarcane and potato crops in Pakistan were investigated. Morphological and molecular characterization revealed the

presence of Fusarium sacchari and Ceratocystis sp. in sugar- cane samples, and Epicoccum nigrum and Alternaria alternata

in potato samples. Effective biocontrol of these pathogens was shown by two corn rhizobacteria, i.e. Bacillus subtilis

(MUN-1) and Bacillus velezensis (MUN-15). Both strains exhib- ited significant inhibition of fungal growth in vitro with Bacillus

subtilis demonstrating higher efficacy. Gene-specific PCR anal- ysis confirmed the presence of surfactin and iturin genes

responsible for antifungal metabolite production in these bac- teria in addition to VOCs. To the best of our knowledge, this

is the first report of Epicoccum nigrum infecting potato plants in Pakistan. Implementing such eco-friendly strategies can contribute to the reduction of chemical inputs in agriculture ensuring crop health and productivity.