Screening bacterial species for antagonistic activities against the Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) De Bary causal agent of cucumber white mold disease

Abstract

In this study, 23 bacteria strains that belong to 19 bacterial species were tested against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) De Bary. In vivo and in vitro testing of bacterial strains showed that Serratia plymuthica strains IK-150 and IK-139, Burkholderia cepacia strain IK-16, Pseudomonas flourocens strain IK-3, Pseudomonas putida strain IK-1, Paenibacillus macerans strain IK-36, Pantoea agglomerans strain IK-147 and Burkholderia pyronicia strain IK-145 totally inhibited mycelial growth and caused loss of viability of sclerotia. The other tested bacterial strains also reduced mycelial growth of the fungus development. These results indicate that bacterial species used in this study could be used in the control of S. sclerotiorum.

Key words: Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, white mold, biological control, bacteria.