Screening Biocontrol Agents for Cash Crop Fusarium Wilt Based on Fusaric Acid Tolerance and Antagonistic Activity against Fusarium oxysporum

Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum, is one of the most notorious diseases of cash crops. The use of microbial fungicides is an effective measure for controlling Fusarium wilt, and the genus Bacillus is an important resource for the development of microbial fungicides. Fusaric acid (FA) produced by F. oxysporum can inhibit the growth of Bacillus, thus affecting the control efficacy of microbial fungicides. Therefore, screening FA-tolerant biocontrol Bacillus may help to improve the biocontrol effect on Fusarium wilt. In this study, a method for screening biocontrol agents against Fusarium wilt was established based on tolerance to FA and antagonism against F. oxysporum. Three promising biocontrol bacteria, named B31, F68, and 30833, were obtained to successfully control tomato, watermelon, and cucumber Fusarium wilt. Strains B31, F68, and 30833 were identified as B. velezensis by phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rDNA, gyrB, rpoB, and rpoC gene sequences. Coculture assays revealed that strains B31, F68, and 30833 showed increased tolerance to F. oxysporum and its metabolites compared with B. velezensis strain FZB42. Further experiments confirmed that 10 & mu;g/mL FA completely inhibited the growth of strain FZB42, while strains B31, F68, and 30833 maintained normal growth at 20 & mu;g/mL FA and partial growth at 40 & mu;g/mL FA. Compared with strain FZB42, strains B31, F68, and 30833 exhibited significantly greater tolerance to FA.

Automated summary

This study established a screening method for biocontrol agents against Fusarium wilt based on tolerance to Fusaric acid and antagonism against F. oxysporum. Three promising biocontrol bacteria were obtained, named B31, F68, and 30833, which successfully controlled tomato, watermelon, and cucumber Fusarium wilt. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed these strains as B. velezensis. Further experiments showed that strains B31, F68, and 30833 exhibited significantly greater tolerance to Fusaric acid compared to strain FZB42.