Bio-management of anthracnose disease in chilli with microencapsulates containing Bacillus subtilis B298

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to evaluate the Bacillus subtilis B298 strain as antagonist of Colletotrichum sp. pathogens in vitro, and to evaluate the ability of microencapsulated B. subtilis B298 strain formula to suppress anthracnose disease of chilli in the fields. Methods for antagonism test of B. subtilis B298 against Colletotrichum sp. was conducted by dual culture on potato dextrose agar medium. Microencapsulated formula 2g. L−1 of B. subtilis B298 spray was used as control of anthracnose disease in the fields. The four treatments were arranged by Randomized Completely Block Design consist of control, B. subtilis B298, fungicide, and combination of B. subtilis B298 and fungicide with six replications. The measured variable in vitro was inhibition percentage, and that of in field were; disease intensity, infection rates and plant total phenol. Results showed that B. subtilis B298 strain inhibited 56% growth of Colletotrichum sp. in vitro, micro capsulated B. subtilis B298 reduced disease intensity by 48% with infection rates of 0,02 unit.day−1. Microencapsulated B. subtilis B298 induced plant systemic disease resistance on chili as total phenol of the treated plant increased.