JOURNAL OF PLANT PATHOLOGY, cilt.106, sa.1, ss.153-163, 2024 (SCI-Expanded)
Microbiological applications in controlling plant diseases offer a powerful alternative to chemicals. The present study aimed to develop bacterial formulations with a suitable solid carrier and investigate their usability as biocontrol agents against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-cucumerinum, which causes Fusarium root and stem rot disease in cucumber. The present study determined the antifungal efficacy of bioagent bacteria (MF-1, TV-6 F, TV-17 C, C-37 A) on Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-cucumerinum and identified using 16 S rDNA sequence analysis. Twelve formulations were created by determining pH and temperature conditions under which those bacteria grow optimally. The efficacy of formulations against the disease at different doses was tested on cucumber plants under greenhouse conditions. Also, the twelve formulations' shelf lives were examined at room and 4 C-o temperatures for six months. Using the endospores of Bacillus subtilis isolates TV-6 F, TV-17 C, and Pseudomonas chlororaphis isolates MF-1, C-37 A, the bacterial formulations were created in the range of 1.6 x 10(9) - 4 x 10(7) CFU g(- 1). In general, it was determined that the antifungal efficacy of the formulations against the disease was higher than that of the synthetic seed treatment. In the shelf life studies of the formulations, bacterial counts after 6 months were found in the range of 8.9 x 10(9) - 9.3 x 10(6) CFU g(- 1). The biological products developed in the present study against Fusarium root and stem rot disease in cucumber can be used as an alternative due to their significant advantages over synthetic fungicides.