Biocontrol Potential of <i>Bacillus velezensis</i> RS65 Against <i>Phytophthora infestans</i>: A Sustainable Strategy for Managing Tomato Late Blight

This study aimed to investigate the biocontrol activity of rhizosphere isolates against late blight disease of tomatoes caused by the fungus <i>Phytophthora infestans</i>. A total of 30 rhizospheric bacterial isolates were evaluated for their antagonistic activity against <i>P. inf...

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Main Authors: Hasna Elhjouji, Redouan Qessaoui, Hafsa Houmairi, Khadija Dari, Bouchaib Bencharki, El Hassan Mayad, Hinde Aassila
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Microorganisms
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/3/656
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author Hasna Elhjouji
Redouan Qessaoui
Hafsa Houmairi
Khadija Dari
Bouchaib Bencharki
El Hassan Mayad
Hinde Aassila
author_facet Hasna Elhjouji
Redouan Qessaoui
Hafsa Houmairi
Khadija Dari
Bouchaib Bencharki
El Hassan Mayad
Hinde Aassila
author_sort Hasna Elhjouji
collection DOAJ
description This study aimed to investigate the biocontrol activity of rhizosphere isolates against late blight disease of tomatoes caused by the fungus <i>Phytophthora infestans</i>. A total of 30 rhizospheric bacterial isolates were evaluated for their antagonistic activity against <i>P. infestans in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i>. The results demonstrated that among the 30 isolates tested, six (RS65, RP6, RS47, RS46, RP2, and RS61) exhibited a highly significant inhibitory effect (<i>p</i> < 0.001) on the mycelial growth of <i>P. infestans in vitro</i>, with the inhibition rate exceeding 67%. Among the isolates, RS65 exhibited the highest inhibition rate at 78.48%. For antagonistic mechanisms, the results demonstrated that the six isolates exhibited significant enzymatic activity, including proteolytic, lipolytic, and chitinolytic activity, as well as the production of HCN, cellulase, and pectinase. Isolate RS65, which showed the highest inhibition rate, was further evaluated under greenhouse conditions. This investigation revealed significant differences in the severity of late blight between the control and the RS65 treatment. The control showed a severity level of 31.26%, whereas the RS65 treatment achieved the lowest severity of 16.54%. Molecular identification results indicated that the RS65 isolate (accession numbers PV208381) is a <i>Bacillus</i> genus with 99% proximity to <i>Bacillus velezensis</i>. This finding suggests that the <i>Bacillus</i> RS65 treatment could provide effective protection against <i>P. infestans</i> infection in tomato plants. These findings highlight the potential of <i>Bacillus</i> RS65 as a biocontrol agent in integrated disease management for tomato late blight.
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spelling doaj-art-77b1842f6bf64d42b152efd4c8acb5ff2025-08-20T01:48:57ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072025-03-0113365610.3390/microorganisms13030656Biocontrol Potential of <i>Bacillus velezensis</i> RS65 Against <i>Phytophthora infestans</i>: A Sustainable Strategy for Managing Tomato Late BlightHasna Elhjouji0Redouan Qessaoui1Hafsa Houmairi2Khadija Dari3Bouchaib Bencharki4El Hassan Mayad5Hinde Aassila6Agri-Food and Health Laboratory, Faculty of Science & Technology, Hassan First University of Settat, Settat 26000, MoroccoRegional Center of Agricultural Research of Agadir, National Institute of Agricultural Research (INRA), Avenue Ennasr, BP415 Rabat Principal, Rabat 10090, MoroccoAgri-Food and Health Laboratory, Faculty of Science & Technology, Hassan First University of Settat, Settat 26000, MoroccoAgri-Food and Health Laboratory, Faculty of Science & Technology, Hassan First University of Settat, Settat 26000, MoroccoAgri-Food and Health Laboratory, Faculty of Science & Technology, Hassan First University of Settat, Settat 26000, MoroccoLaboratory of Biotechnology and Valorization of Natural Resources, Faculty of Science of Agadir, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir 80000, MoroccoAgri-Food and Health Laboratory, Faculty of Science & Technology, Hassan First University of Settat, Settat 26000, MoroccoThis study aimed to investigate the biocontrol activity of rhizosphere isolates against late blight disease of tomatoes caused by the fungus <i>Phytophthora infestans</i>. A total of 30 rhizospheric bacterial isolates were evaluated for their antagonistic activity against <i>P. infestans in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i>. The results demonstrated that among the 30 isolates tested, six (RS65, RP6, RS47, RS46, RP2, and RS61) exhibited a highly significant inhibitory effect (<i>p</i> < 0.001) on the mycelial growth of <i>P. infestans in vitro</i>, with the inhibition rate exceeding 67%. Among the isolates, RS65 exhibited the highest inhibition rate at 78.48%. For antagonistic mechanisms, the results demonstrated that the six isolates exhibited significant enzymatic activity, including proteolytic, lipolytic, and chitinolytic activity, as well as the production of HCN, cellulase, and pectinase. Isolate RS65, which showed the highest inhibition rate, was further evaluated under greenhouse conditions. This investigation revealed significant differences in the severity of late blight between the control and the RS65 treatment. The control showed a severity level of 31.26%, whereas the RS65 treatment achieved the lowest severity of 16.54%. Molecular identification results indicated that the RS65 isolate (accession numbers PV208381) is a <i>Bacillus</i> genus with 99% proximity to <i>Bacillus velezensis</i>. This finding suggests that the <i>Bacillus</i> RS65 treatment could provide effective protection against <i>P. infestans</i> infection in tomato plants. These findings highlight the potential of <i>Bacillus</i> RS65 as a biocontrol agent in integrated disease management for tomato late blight.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/3/656rhizosphere isolatesbiocontrol activitytomato late blight
spellingShingle Hasna Elhjouji
Redouan Qessaoui
Hafsa Houmairi
Khadija Dari
Bouchaib Bencharki
El Hassan Mayad
Hinde Aassila
Biocontrol Potential of <i>Bacillus velezensis</i> RS65 Against <i>Phytophthora infestans</i>: A Sustainable Strategy for Managing Tomato Late Blight
Microorganisms
rhizosphere isolates
biocontrol activity
tomato late blight
title Biocontrol Potential of <i>Bacillus velezensis</i> RS65 Against <i>Phytophthora infestans</i>: A Sustainable Strategy for Managing Tomato Late Blight
title_full Biocontrol Potential of <i>Bacillus velezensis</i> RS65 Against <i>Phytophthora infestans</i>: A Sustainable Strategy for Managing Tomato Late Blight
title_fullStr Biocontrol Potential of <i>Bacillus velezensis</i> RS65 Against <i>Phytophthora infestans</i>: A Sustainable Strategy for Managing Tomato Late Blight
title_full_unstemmed Biocontrol Potential of <i>Bacillus velezensis</i> RS65 Against <i>Phytophthora infestans</i>: A Sustainable Strategy for Managing Tomato Late Blight
title_short Biocontrol Potential of <i>Bacillus velezensis</i> RS65 Against <i>Phytophthora infestans</i>: A Sustainable Strategy for Managing Tomato Late Blight
title_sort biocontrol potential of i bacillus velezensis i rs65 against i phytophthora infestans i a sustainable strategy for managing tomato late blight
topic rhizosphere isolates
biocontrol activity
tomato late blight
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/3/656
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