Use of Promising Bacterial Strains for Controlling Anthracnose on Leaf and Fruit of Mango Caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides

A total 146 isolates of bacteria were taken from leaf surface, fruit skin, and blossom of mango (var. Nam Dorkmai). They were tested for the inhibition of mycelial growth of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, a causal agent of anthracnose, on potato dextrose agar (PDA). Seventy-four bacterial isolates inhibited the growth of fungal mycelia by 24.51-49.10%. The 40 highly effective isolates out of 74 isolates were further tested for the potential to reduce the development of anthracnose lesion on detached leaves of mango marcotages at 24 h after inoculation of pathogen. Results indicated that 12 isolates provided high efficacy for inhibiting disease by 51.39-86.11%. Application of these bacteria on mango fruits at 24 h prior to the inoculation of the pathogen revealed that isolates B46 and B12 suppressed disease by 50.36 and 44.13% respectively while Trichoderma harzianum CB-Pin-01 provided 37.30% of the inhibition. For controlling post-harvest disease, an isolate B12 or B12 integrated with hot water treatment (55 oC) provided 91.33 and 88.00% of disease severity reduction respectively when applied at 24 h before inoculation of pathogen. Isolates B12 and B44 were identified as Bacillus subtilis while B46 and K112 were B. licheniformis and B. cereus respectively. The mechanism of these isolates for controlling C. gloeosporioides was the reduction of spore germination and the inhibition of germ-tube elongation