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

Yeast Associated with Rice Phylloplane and Their Contribution to Control of Rice Sheath Blight Disease

The phylloplane is an important habitat for yeasts and these yeasts may have antagonistic activities against pathogens and could be used as biocontrol agents. To investigate rice phylloplane yeasts, 282 strains were isolated from 89 rice leaf samples and identified as 15 known yeast species in the phylum Ascomycota and 35 known and two potential new species in the phylum Basidiomycota. The majority of rice phylloplane yeasts belonged to the phylum Basidiomycota. The evaluation of antagonistic activities of 83 yeast strains against rice pathogenic fungi Pyricularia oryzae, Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium moniliforme, Helminthosporium oryzae and Curvularia lunata revealed that 14 strains inhibited these pathogens. Among the antagonistic strains, Torulaspora indica DMKU-RP31, T. indica DMKU-RP35 and Wickerhamomyces anomalus DMKU-RP25 inhibited all rice pathogens tested, and the production of volatile organic compounds, fungal cell wall degrading enzymes and biofilm were the possible antagonistic mechanisms against all rice pathogens tested in vitro. These yeast strains were evaluated for controlling rice sheath blight caused by R. solani in rice plants in the greenhouse and were found to suppress the disease by 60.0–70.3%, whereas 3% validamycin suppressed by 83.8%. Therefore, they have potential for being developed to be used as biocontrol agents for rice sheath blight