Identification of New Biocontrol Agent against Charcoal Rot Disease Caused by Macrophomina phaseolina in Soybean ( Glycine max L.)

Humaira Yasmin, Rabia Naz, Asia Nosheen, Muhammad Nadeem Hassan, Noshin Ilyas, Muhammad Sajjad, Seemab Anjum, Xiangkuo Gao and Zhide Geng
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Humaira Yasmin: Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad 45550, Pakistan
Rabia Naz: Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad 45550, Pakistan
Asia Nosheen: Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad 45550, Pakistan
Muhammad Nadeem Hassan: Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad 45550, Pakistan
Noshin Ilyas: Department of Botany, PMAS-Arid University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi 46300, Pakistan
Muhammad Sajjad: Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad 45550, Pakistan
Seemab Anjum: Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad 45550, Pakistan
Xiangkuo Gao: Institute of Food Crops, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650205, China
Zhide Geng: Institute of Food Crops, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650205, China

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 17, 1-24

Abstract: Controlling agricultural pests using suitable biocontrol agents has been considered the best strategy for sustainable agriculture. Charcoal rot caused by a necrotrophic fungus Macrophomina phaseolina is responsible for a 30–50% annual reduction in soybean yield worldwide. Little is known about the role of Bacillus clausii in reducing charcoal rot disease severity in the soybean crop. In this study, we investigated plant growth promoting and antagonistic potential of Pseudomonas putida (MT604992) and Bacillus clausii (MT604989) against charcoal rot disease incidence in soybean. Among twenty bacteria isolated from soil and water samples of two different hot springs of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, 80% were siderophore positive; 65% were hydrogen cyanide (HCN) positive; 55%, 30%, and 75% were phosphate, potassium, and zinc solubilizers, respectively. Based on higher antagonistic activities and plant growth promoting traits five strains were selected for in vitro screening. Out of all tested strains, Pseudomonas putida and Bacillus clausii showed a significant increase in germination, growth, and disease suppression in soybean. These strains produced a pronounced increase in relative water content, photosynthetic pigments, membrane stability, proline, antioxidant enzymes status, phytohormones content (Salicylic acid, and Jasmonic acid), and disease suppression in comparison to control plants. Bacillus clausii mitigated the disease by 97% with a marked increase in the proline content (73% and 89%), superoxide dismutase (356% and 208%), peroxidase (439% and 138.6%), catalase (255.8% and 80.8%), and ascorbate peroxidase (228% and 90%) activities in shoots and roots, respectively. Infected plants showed an increase in salicylic acid and jasmonic acid content which was further increased with the application of the selected strains to increase resistance against pathogens. To our knowledge, this is the first study showing a rise in salicylic acid and jasmonic acid in Macrophomina phaseolina infected plants. These two strains are suggested as a cost-effective, eco-friendly, and sustainable alternative to chemical fungicides. However, there is a need to explore the field testing and molecular mechanisms leading to disease suppression by these strains.

Keywords: PGPB; charcoal rot; Macrophomina phaseolina; biocontrol; salicylic acid; jasmonic acid (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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