Microencapsulation of <i>Bacillus megaterium</i> in Humic Acid-Supplied Alginate Beads Enhances Tomato Growth and Suppresses the Root-Knot Nematode <i>Meloidogyne javanica</i> Under Greenhouse Conditions

In recent years, interest in using encapsulated plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) as a biocontrol agent against root-knot nematodes has increased. Root-knot nematodes are soil-borne parasites that mostly cause annual commercial losses globally by infecting tomato plants (<i>Solanum l...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: El-Shawadfy M. Mousa, Mohssen Elbagory, Magdy E. Mahdy, Hanaa A. Abo-Koura, Alaa El-Dein Omara
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Horticulturae
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/10/12/1284
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850041580987088896
author El-Shawadfy M. Mousa
Mohssen Elbagory
Magdy E. Mahdy
Hanaa A. Abo-Koura
Alaa El-Dein Omara
author_facet El-Shawadfy M. Mousa
Mohssen Elbagory
Magdy E. Mahdy
Hanaa A. Abo-Koura
Alaa El-Dein Omara
author_sort El-Shawadfy M. Mousa
collection DOAJ
description In recent years, interest in using encapsulated plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) as a biocontrol agent against root-knot nematodes has increased. Root-knot nematodes are soil-borne parasites that mostly cause annual commercial losses globally by infecting tomato plants (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i>). In this work, tomato plants (cv. GS) were grown in a greenhouse to test the effectiveness of encapsulated <i>Bacillus megaterium</i> with or without humic acid or in liquid form at different inoculum levels against <i>Meloidogyne javanica</i> and their impact on different growth parameters. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to visualize the microencapsulation of <i>B. megaterium</i> as well as viability and protease production In vitro. In a greenhouse experiment, humic acid-encapsulated <i>B. megaterium</i> resulted in a significant decrease in nematode parameters compared to the control group. When compared to other inoculants, the use of 10 capsules/plant decreased nematode infestation and enhanced plant growth parameters, antioxidant enzymes, and photosynthetic pigments. These results are reflected in increased dehydrogenase activity, total bacterial count, and acidic and alkaline phosphatase in soil 30 and 60 days after transplanting. Therefore, to increase the development dynamics of tomato plants and reduce nematode infestation, we advise using <i>B. megaterium</i> capsules supplemented with humic acid.
format Article
id doaj-art-3d13aa58c67c4c60aea716ee330c14ec
institution DOAJ
issn 2311-7524
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Horticulturae
spelling doaj-art-3d13aa58c67c4c60aea716ee330c14ec2025-08-20T02:55:45ZengMDPI AGHorticulturae2311-75242024-12-011012128410.3390/horticulturae10121284Microencapsulation of <i>Bacillus megaterium</i> in Humic Acid-Supplied Alginate Beads Enhances Tomato Growth and Suppresses the Root-Knot Nematode <i>Meloidogyne javanica</i> Under Greenhouse ConditionsEl-Shawadfy M. Mousa0Mohssen Elbagory1Magdy E. Mahdy2Hanaa A. Abo-Koura3Alaa El-Dein Omara4Agricultural Botany Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Menoufia University, Shebin El-Kom 32516, EgyptDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science and Arts, King Khalid University, Mohail 61321, Assir, Saudi ArabiaAgricultural Botany Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Menoufia University, Shebin El-Kom 32516, EgyptSoil Microbiology Research Department, Soils, Water, and Environment Research Institute (SWERI), Agriculture Research Center (ARC), Giza 12112, EgyptSoil Microbiology Research Department, Soils, Water, and Environment Research Institute (SWERI), Agriculture Research Center (ARC), Giza 12112, EgyptIn recent years, interest in using encapsulated plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) as a biocontrol agent against root-knot nematodes has increased. Root-knot nematodes are soil-borne parasites that mostly cause annual commercial losses globally by infecting tomato plants (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i>). In this work, tomato plants (cv. GS) were grown in a greenhouse to test the effectiveness of encapsulated <i>Bacillus megaterium</i> with or without humic acid or in liquid form at different inoculum levels against <i>Meloidogyne javanica</i> and their impact on different growth parameters. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to visualize the microencapsulation of <i>B. megaterium</i> as well as viability and protease production In vitro. In a greenhouse experiment, humic acid-encapsulated <i>B. megaterium</i> resulted in a significant decrease in nematode parameters compared to the control group. When compared to other inoculants, the use of 10 capsules/plant decreased nematode infestation and enhanced plant growth parameters, antioxidant enzymes, and photosynthetic pigments. These results are reflected in increased dehydrogenase activity, total bacterial count, and acidic and alkaline phosphatase in soil 30 and 60 days after transplanting. Therefore, to increase the development dynamics of tomato plants and reduce nematode infestation, we advise using <i>B. megaterium</i> capsules supplemented with humic acid.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/10/12/1284<i>Meloidogyne javanica</i><i>B. megaterium</i>tomatoalginatehumic acid
spellingShingle El-Shawadfy M. Mousa
Mohssen Elbagory
Magdy E. Mahdy
Hanaa A. Abo-Koura
Alaa El-Dein Omara
Microencapsulation of <i>Bacillus megaterium</i> in Humic Acid-Supplied Alginate Beads Enhances Tomato Growth and Suppresses the Root-Knot Nematode <i>Meloidogyne javanica</i> Under Greenhouse Conditions
Horticulturae
<i>Meloidogyne javanica</i>
<i>B. megaterium</i>
tomato
alginate
humic acid
title Microencapsulation of <i>Bacillus megaterium</i> in Humic Acid-Supplied Alginate Beads Enhances Tomato Growth and Suppresses the Root-Knot Nematode <i>Meloidogyne javanica</i> Under Greenhouse Conditions
title_full Microencapsulation of <i>Bacillus megaterium</i> in Humic Acid-Supplied Alginate Beads Enhances Tomato Growth and Suppresses the Root-Knot Nematode <i>Meloidogyne javanica</i> Under Greenhouse Conditions
title_fullStr Microencapsulation of <i>Bacillus megaterium</i> in Humic Acid-Supplied Alginate Beads Enhances Tomato Growth and Suppresses the Root-Knot Nematode <i>Meloidogyne javanica</i> Under Greenhouse Conditions
title_full_unstemmed Microencapsulation of <i>Bacillus megaterium</i> in Humic Acid-Supplied Alginate Beads Enhances Tomato Growth and Suppresses the Root-Knot Nematode <i>Meloidogyne javanica</i> Under Greenhouse Conditions
title_short Microencapsulation of <i>Bacillus megaterium</i> in Humic Acid-Supplied Alginate Beads Enhances Tomato Growth and Suppresses the Root-Knot Nematode <i>Meloidogyne javanica</i> Under Greenhouse Conditions
title_sort microencapsulation of i bacillus megaterium i in humic acid supplied alginate beads enhances tomato growth and suppresses the root knot nematode i meloidogyne javanica i under greenhouse conditions
topic <i>Meloidogyne javanica</i>
<i>B. megaterium</i>
tomato
alginate
humic acid
url https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/10/12/1284
work_keys_str_mv AT elshawadfymmousa microencapsulationofibacillusmegateriumiinhumicacidsuppliedalginatebeadsenhancestomatogrowthandsuppressestherootknotnematodeimeloidogynejavanicaiundergreenhouseconditions
AT mohssenelbagory microencapsulationofibacillusmegateriumiinhumicacidsuppliedalginatebeadsenhancestomatogrowthandsuppressestherootknotnematodeimeloidogynejavanicaiundergreenhouseconditions
AT magdyemahdy microencapsulationofibacillusmegateriumiinhumicacidsuppliedalginatebeadsenhancestomatogrowthandsuppressestherootknotnematodeimeloidogynejavanicaiundergreenhouseconditions
AT hanaaaabokoura microencapsulationofibacillusmegateriumiinhumicacidsuppliedalginatebeadsenhancestomatogrowthandsuppressestherootknotnematodeimeloidogynejavanicaiundergreenhouseconditions
AT alaaeldeinomara microencapsulationofibacillusmegateriumiinhumicacidsuppliedalginatebeadsenhancestomatogrowthandsuppressestherootknotnematodeimeloidogynejavanicaiundergreenhouseconditions