The Ability of Chitinolytic Bacteria to Control Colletotrichum capsici in Chili Plants

Abstract

Anthracnose disease caused by Colletotrichum capsici is one of the important diseases in chili plants that can reduce yields up to 50-100%. Chitinolytic bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis AGBE 3.3.BB, B. cereus SLBE1.1. SN and B. toyonensis AGBE1.2.TL were antagonistic to C. capsici. This study aimed to determine the potential of chitinolytic bacteria in controlling C. capsici in chili plants. Three bacterial isolates were formulated using bran as a carrier medium. The research was divided into four stages: antagonist test, viability test, ability test of biological agents to control C. capsici and plant growth. This study showed that the severity of anthracnose in the bacterial formulation of B. thuringiensis strain AGBE 3.3 BB was lower, which was 64.3% compared to the control. Tests showed that the formulation of B. cereus SLBE1.1. SN, formulation B. toyonensis strain AGBE1.2TL, formulation B. thuringiensis strain AGBE 3.3 BB, and the consortium formulation could inhibit C. capsici infection. These results indicate that chitinolytic bacteria’s formulation has the potential to be a biological control agent against C. capsici.