Bacillus cereus MH778713 elicits tomato plant protection against Fusarium oxysporum.

Abstract

AIM\nThe genus Fusarium comprises plant-pathogenic species with agricultural relevance. F. oxysporum causes tomato wilt disease with significant production losses. The use of agrochemicals to control the Fusarium wilt of tomato is not environmentally friendly. Bacillus species, as biocontrol agents, provide a safe and sustainable means to control Fusarium-induced plant diseases. In this study, the ability of B. cereus MH778713, a strain isolated from root nodules of Prosopis laevigata, to protect tomato plants against Fusarium wilt was evaluated.\n\n\nMETHODS AND RESULTS\nB. cereus MH778713 and its volatiles inhibited the radial growth of F. oxysporum and stimulated tomato seedling growth in vitro and in vivo tests. When tomato plants growing in the greenhouse were inoculated with B. cereus MH778713, the percentage of wilted plants decreased from 96% to 12%, indicating an effective crop protection against Fusarium wilt. Among the metabolites produced by B. cereus MH778713, hentriacontane and 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol promoted tomato seedling growth and showed antifungal activity against the target pathogen.\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nThe inoculation of B. cereus MH778713 on tomato seedlings helped plants to manage Fusarium wilt, suggesting the potential of B. cereus MH778713 as a biocontrol agent.\n\n\nSIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY\nThese results complement our previous studies on chromium-tolerance and bioremediation traits of B. cereus MH778713 by highlight the potential of this metal-resistant microorganism to boost crop growth and disease resistance.