ISSN 2736-1756
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2016
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2016 International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Beneficial effects of Bacillus subtilis on field-grown tomato in Burundi: Reduction of local Fusarium disease and growth promotion
Venant Nihorimbere1,3, Marc Ongena1*, Hélène Cawoy1, Yves Brostaux2, Pascal Kakana3, Emmanuel Jourdan1 and Philippe Thonart1
1Walloon Centre of Industrial Biology, University of Liège, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Belgium.
2Statistics, informatics and applied mathematics, University of Liège, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Belgium. B-5030 Gembloux, Belgium.
3Faculty of Agronomy, University of Burundi, P. O. Box 1550, Bujumbura, Burundi.
Accepted 15 April, 2016
Abstract
The biocontrol potential of Bacillus subtilis S499 was evaluated on tomato in open field sites in low altitude area of the plain of Imbo in Burundi. This strain was tested in order to reduce the impact of an important fungal disease giving rise to large losses in local plantings. The causing pathogen was isolated from diseased leaves at different locations in the fields and identified as Fusarium most probably related to the semitectum species according to the fermentation profile, morphology and gene homology. Results of assays performed in two successive years on the same site indicated that bacterial treatment on seeds significantly increased growth and fruit yield of tomato plants and also provided a high level of protection against the disease caused by this Fusarium pathogen. This is the first reported study on this disease and based on the data collected, B. subtilis S499 may represent an effective solution as biocontrol agent where other chemical options have failed.
Key words: Bacillus subtilis, biocontrol, Fusarium disease, tomato plants.