AUTHOR=Chen Xiaolin , Zhang Miaomiao , Tang Lihua , Huang Suiping , Guo Tangxun , Li Qili 

TITLE=Screening and characterization of biocontrol bacteria isolated from Ageratum conyzoides against Collectotrichum fructicola causing Chinese plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.) anthracnose

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1296755

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2023.1296755

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Chinese plum (<italic>Prunus salicina</italic> Lindl.) is a nutritionally and economically important stone fruit widely grown around the world. Anthracnose, caused by <italic>Collectotrichum</italic> spp., is one of the primary biotic stress factors limiting plum production. Medicinal plants may harbor rhizospheric or endophytic microorganisms that produce bioactive metabolites that can be used as anthracnose biocontrol agents. Here, 27 bacterial isolates from the medicinal plant <italic>A. conyzoides</italic> with diverse antagonistic activities against <italic>C. fructicola</italic> were screened. Based on morphological, physiological, biochemical, and molecular characterization, 25 of these isolates belong to different species of genus <italic>Bacillus</italic>, one to <italic>Pseudomonas monsensis</italic>, and one more to <italic>Microbacterium phyllosphaerae</italic>. Eight representative strains showed high biocontrol efficacy against plum anthracnose in a pot experiment. In addition, several <italic>Bacillus</italic> isolates showed a broad spectrum of inhibitory activity against a variety of fungal phytopathogens. Analysis of the volatile organic compound profile of these eight representative strains revealed a total of 47 compounds, most of which were ketones, while the others included alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, pyrazines, and phenols. Overall, this study confirmed the potential value of eight bacterial isolates for development as anthracnose biocontrol agents.</p>