Jul 2026· International Journal of Plant Biology· Vol 17, pp. 61· 0 citations· 56 references
TL;DR
Overall, this study demonstrates that multi-trait evaluation, integrating mechanistic screening and in planta validation, provides a more reliable framework for selecting effective biocontrol agents.
Abstract
Pathogenic strains of Fusarium oxysporum are major soilborne fungal pathogens responsible for Fusarium wilt in tomato, leading to significant yield losses worldwide. This study evaluated the biocontrol potential of rhizospheric bacterial isolates from argan (Argania spinosa) and raspberry (Rubus idaeus) soils through an integrated approach combining in vitro screening, greenhouse validation, and phylogenetic analysis. A total of 27 bacterial isolates were screened for antifungal activity using dual culture assays, of which ten exhibited more than 50% inhibition of fungal growth. Selected isolates were further evaluated for volatile organic compound (VOC)-mediated inhibition. Despite strong in vitro performance for several isolates, greenhouse experiments revealed that antifungal activity in vitro was not a reliable predictor of in planta efficacy. Among the tested isolates, BSA25, BSA23, and BSF8 significantly reduced disease severity and incidence under greenhouse conditions, with BSA25 achieving the greatest suppression. In addition to disease control, certain isolates promoted plant growth under pathogen stress, indicating dual functionality as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). Molecular identification based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis (Neighbor-Joining, Kimura 2-parameter) revealed that the isolates belong to PGPR-associated genera, including Bacillus and Pseudomonas, while also highlighting functional variability among closely related taxa. Overall, this study demonstrates that multi-trait evaluation, integrating mechanistic screening and in planta validation, provides a more reliable framework for selecting effective biocontrol agents. The identified isolates, particularly BSA25, represent promising candidates for further evaluation for sustainable management of Fusarium wilt in tomato production systems.
The present findings indicate that Pseudomonas lactis and Bacillus tropicus have potential as biological control agents against Fusarium oxysporum while simultaneously promoting pepper growth.
O. Oyawoye, K. J. Ayantola, E. A. Omotoso et al.· International Journal of Pat...· 0 citations
Abstract Fusarium wilt of tomato, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, is a major constraint to global production, causing up to 80% yield loss under favourable conditions. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) offer an eco-friendly alternative for disease management through growth promotion and pathogen suppression. This study aimed to isolate and characterise PGPR from tomato rhizosphere soils across different agro-climatic zones of Assam and evaluate their antagonistic potential under in vitro and glasshouse conditions. A total of 216 isolates were obtained, of which six showed strong antifungal activity (64–83% inhibition) in dual culture assays. Glasshouse evaluation revealed significant reduction in disease incidence (64.80–80.73%) over control. Molecular identification classified these isolates into Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Clostridium, Lysinibacillus, and Achromobacter. Biochemical analyses confirmed production of indole acetic acid, ammonia, siderophores, and phosphate-solubilizing compounds. These results demonstrate the potential of indigenous PGPR isolates as promising biocontrol agents for suppressing Fusarium wilt of tomato under greenhouse conditions. However, field validation and experiments including pathogen-free PGPR treatments are required to distinguish direct plant growth promotion from disease suppression before practical application.
L. Giri, Daisy Senapoty, P. Kaman et al.· Archives of Phytopathology a...· 0 citations
The results demonstrate that indigenous PGPR associated with the groundnut rhizosphere possess promising antagonistic activity against N. personata and represent potential candidates for the development of environmentally sustainable management strategies for late leaf spot disease.
L. Giri, M. Prameela, H. Sudini et al.· Journal of Advances in Biolo...· 0 citations
Introduction Rhizoctonia root rot has a wide host range and no resistant soybean cultivars exist, making it a serious problem. Methods The antifungal activity of 65 isolates of rhizobacteria against R. solani was evaluated. Results and Discussion The pathogen in the in vitro experiment was inhibited by nine rhizobacterial endophytes. The most effective rhizobacterial isolate was genus-level verified using 16S rDNA partial sequence analysis. The impact of the biocontrol isolate was investigated on R. solani infection in both greenhouse and field conditions. The rhizobacterial isolate considerably decreased the percentage of pre- and post-emergence damping-off and enhanced the plant survival compared to the untreated control grown in soil infected with R. solani. Lysinibacillus fusiformis treatment resulted in significantly stimulated antioxidant enzymes and total phenols. Transcript levels of the studied defense-related genes were considerably elevated after L. fusiformis treatment, according to quantitative RT-PCR data. Treatment of L. fusiformis in challenged plants achieved the highest levels of PR-1, PR-2, PR-10, and PR-12. The field experiments revealed that the biocontrol treatment method significantly reduced Rhizoctonia root rot incidence, stimulated plant growth, and increased yield. This research has uncovered a promising biocontrol bacterial isolate that might be used as a novel bioagent for controlling R. solani. After further toxicological and ecotoxicological evaluation, formulation development, and multi-location field trials, L. fusiformis may represent a promising candidate for development as a biocontrol agent.
Faisal Ay Alzahrani, Mehran Ullah, M. Elsharkawy· Frontiers in Plant Science· 0 citations
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) production is severely constrained by Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum, a soil-borne pathogen that disrupts vascular tissues and reduces plant growth and productivity. Although synthetic fungicides are widely used, their environmental impacts have encouraged the development of sustainable alternatives. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of citronella (Cymbopogon citratus) essential oil as a botanical pesticide for suppressing Fusarium wilt and improving tomato plant growth under greenhouse conditions. The experiment employed a Randomized Block Design consisting of five treatments (0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.00% Lemongrass) with five replications. Disease incidence and plant height were measured, and the data were analyzed using analysis of variance followed by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test at the 5% significance level. The results showed that Lemongrass significantly reduced disease incidence while enhancing plant growth. The 1.00% treatment produced the lowest disease incidence (10.00%) and the greatest plant height (25.00 cm), whereas the control treatment exhibited 100.00% disease incidence and the lowest plant height (7.00 cm). These findings indicate that citronella essential oil is a promising environmentally friendly botanical pesticide for managing Fusarium wilt while supporting tomato growth.
Alysa Clara Novi Ayu Sipayung, I. Sudiarta, T. A. Phabiola· Research Horizon· 0 citations
Overall, Streptomyces virginiae JCK-8401 is a highly promising, multifunctional biocontrol agent for managing soil-borne diseases through a synergistic combination of antibiosis, bioinoculation, and the induction of host plant defense responses.
L. T. Nguyen, A. Park, H. Le et al.· Plant Pathology Journal· 0 citations
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