Identification of the endophytic bacterial isolate Itb57 from tobacco plant and its control efficacy on tobacco black shank caused byPhytophthora nicotianae
Abstract:The endophytic bacterial isolate Itb57 was obtained from healthy tobacco plants and it was showed antagonistic effect against Phytophthora nicotianae causing tobacco black shank by in vitro tests. In order to determine its taxa and potential application in biological control, Itb57 was identified and its efficacy to control tobacco black shank was evaluated in this study. Based on morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics, and 16S rDNA (GenBank accession GQ153538) phylogenetic analysis, Itb57 was identified as Bacillus subtilis. After tobacco plants were inoculated by seed-soaking and root-irrigation with the bacterial suspension, Itb57 was found to colonize the interior tissues of tobacco plants. The highest amount (3.72×104cfu/g fresh weight) of the inoculated bacterium was detected in the roots while the lowest in the leaves of the plants. Greenhouse pot-grown tobacco plant assays showed that the control efficacy of black shank by Itb57 was 69.28% when the bacterium was applied by root-irrigation in advance of P.nicotianae inoculation. Further, field trials in 2007 and 2008 in Youyang County of Chongqing demonstrated that the application of Itb57 controlled the disease by 61.25% and 72.49%, respectively. Statistical analysis indicated that the disease control efficacy was not significantly different from that obtained by treatment with 58% metalaxyl mancozeb (P>0.05).