Abstract
Apple white rot, caused by <i>Botryosphaeria dothidea</i>, is one of the important diseases in Korea. <i>B. dothidea</i> can cause pre- and postharvest decay on apple fruit as well as canker and dieback of apple trees. In this study, we isolated bacteria from the trunk of apple trees and tested their antagonistic activity against <i>B. dothidea</i>. Five bacterial isolates (23-168, 23-169, 23-170, 23-172, and 23-173) were selected that were most effective at inhibiting the mycelial growth of the pathogens. The isolate 23-172 was identified as <i>Bacillus amyloliquefaciens</i> and four isolates 23-168, 23-169, 23-170, and 23-173 were identified as <i>Bacillus velezensis</i> by RNA polymerase beta subunit (<i>rpoB</i>) and DNA gyraseA subunit (<i>gyrA</i>) gene sequencing. All isolates showed strong antagonistic activity against <i>B. dothidea</i> as well as <i>Colletotrichum fructicola</i> and <i>Diaporthe eres</i>. All isolates exhibited cellulolytic, proteolytic and phosphate solubilizing activities. In particular, two isolates 23-168, 23-169 were shown to significantly reduce the size of white rot lesions in pretreated apple fruits. These results will provide the basis for the development of a fungicide alternative for the control of white rot of apple.
Funder
Rural Development Administration
Publisher
Korean Society of Plant Pathology
Subject
Plant Science,Agronomy and Crop Science,Molecular Biology,Biochemistry,Biotechnology