Effect of in vitro culture conditions of the antagonistic bacterium (Bacillus velezensis YMD1) on its ability to protest Neoscytalidium dimidiatum fungus

Abstract

The fungus Neoscytalidium dimidiatum caused canker disease on dragon fruit, reducing the growth and development of the plants and the quality of dragon fruits. Nowadays, applications of microorganisms to control diseases on dragon fruit plants play an important role for the safe and sustainable dragon fruit production. This study was carried out with the aim to evaluate the effects of some culture conditions of antagonistic bacterium (Bacillus velezensis YMD1) with N. dimidiatum including: temperature, pH and medium compositions. The growth of N. dimidiatum was inhibited by B. velezensis YMD1 when the bacteria were cultured in 48 hours at the temperature of 25-40o C and pH=6-7 in vitro. The maximum inhibition activity (64%) of B. velezensis YMD1 with N. dimidiatum exhibited when the bacteria were cultured in the medium with glucose and peptone at 30o C and pH=6.