Assessment of antibiosis potential of Bacillus sp. against the soil-borne fungal pathogen Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. (Athelia rolfsii (Curzi) Tu & Kimbrough)

Abstract Background This study aimed to investigate the rhizosphere bacterial isolates’ antagonistic property against soil-borne fungal phytopathogen, Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. ( Athelia (Curzi) Tu & Kimbrough). The chemical control of disease caused by S . is economically and environmentally unsustainable, therefore, a bio-control agent in form rhizospheric bacteria gaining importance. Main body Five Bacillus species viz. B subtilis subsp. Subtilis str.168 (accession no. MH283878), siamensis strain PDA 10 MH283879), amyloliquefaciens 1034 MH283880), velezensis FZB42165 MH283881), atrophaeus NBRC 15539 MH283882) were assessed for their potential based on 3 different screening methods. Among these, 100% growth inhibition all 5 spp. was observed novel ring method, whereas dual culture maximum (58%) exhibited activity showed modified method also relatively high, highest (93.7%) shown Besides, sp. evaluated plant growth-promoting attributes other properties such as production siderophore, HCN, amylase, protease, lipase, ammonia, including assessment chitinase cellulase activity. Conclusion provided empirical evidence should be contributive value developing biocontrol this highly important crop pathogen.