Abstract

MOJICA-MARIN, V et al. Biological control of chili pepper root rot (Capsicum annuum L.) by Bacillus thuringiensis. Phyton (B. Aires) [online]. 2009, vol.78, n.2, pp.105-110. ISSN 1851-5657.

Wide spreading of pepper blight on new plantations and on different production areas in Mexico, and the difficulty in controlling this disease, makes it compulsory to develop new control measures. It is expected that these measures provide new tools for controlling this disease in the context of integrated management strategies. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate and determine the antagonistic potential of 64 strains of Bacillus thuringiensis against Rhizoctonia solani, Phytophthora capsici and Fusarium oxysporum by dual culture assays. Strains of B. thuringiensis came from the International Collection of Entomopatogenic Bacillus from FCBUANL. Results showed that 16 strains of B. thuringiensis reduced significantly the radial mycelial growth of R. solani, while 19 strains did the same for P. capsici and 8 strains for F. oxysporum after three days of incubation at 25°C. In addition, the best bacterial strains were evaluated on Anaheim variety pepper seeds by in vivo germination trials: results showed an increase on germination percentage in the case of seed inoculation with B. thuringiensis over R. solani.

Keywords : Bacillus; Biological control; Antagonism; Germination; Soil-borne plant pathogens.

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