Abstract
Seven Jordanian strains belonging to the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) were evaluated for their antifungal effects on soil borne plant pathogenic fungi under laboratory conditions. The antifungal effects of total soluble proteins of Bt stains on the growth of two isolates of the fungus, Fusarium oxysporum (isolated from roots of wilted peach trees and tomato plants), Fusarium proliferatum (isolated from roots of wilted palm trees) and Rhizoctonia solani (isolated from infected tomato seedling) were investigated. Results showed that B. thuringiensis thuringiensis (J23), was the most effective strain on the two fungal species; F. proliferatum and the peach fungal isolate of F. oxysporum. B. thuringiensis entomocidus, Bt (J115) showed the highest activity on the tomato fungal isolate of F. oxysporum. While B. thuringiensis pakistani (J107) was the most effective on R. solani. The Bt (J139) was the least effective strain. Soluble proteins of all Bt strains showed variable potential inhibitory effects on the tested fungi. Soluble proteins of the most effective Bt strains can be developed for potential antimicrobial applications; however, these findings necessitate a step to test the efficacy of these soluble proteins as soil drench to suppress soil borne fungi under field conditions. Key words: Bacillus thuringiensis, inhibition, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium proliferatum, Rhizoctonia solani.
Highlights
Species belonging to the genera Rhizoctonia and Fusarium are the most common and persistent soil borne fungi, attacking economic plants and causing serious damages (Agrios, 2005)
The inhibitory effect of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) strains varied within the tested isolates of F. oxysporum and F. proliferatum
The total soluble proteins of seven Jordanian Bt strains were investigated for their biocontrol potential against some soil borne plant pathogenic fungi belonging to species of Fusarium and Rhizoctonia
Summary
Species belonging to the genera Rhizoctonia and Fusarium are the most common and persistent soil borne fungi, attacking economic plants and causing serious damages (Agrios, 2005). Resistance of cultivars was reported only against certain races of the wilt fungus, this resistance can be broken by several other means including certain nematodes in the soil (Sidhu and Webster, 1977; Naji and Abu-Gharbieh, 2004). Once these fungi are established in the soil, it would be rather impossible to eradicate them. We aimed at investigating the effect of Jordanian Bt on the growth of some F. oxysporum, F. proliferatum and R. solani isolates
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