BACKGROUND Random induced mutation by gamma radiation is one of the genetic manipulation strategies to improve the antagonistic ability of biocontrol agents. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to induce mutants with more sporulation, colonization rate leading to enhanced antagonistic ability (in vitro assay) comparing to wild type (WT) and the assessment of genetic differences (in situ evaluation) u...

In this study, antagonistic effects of 6 isolates of Pseudomonas and 6 isolates of Bacillus genera isolated from rhizosphere of chickpea were evaluated against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris as potential biocontrol agents in vitro and in vivo. Fungal inhibition tests were performed using plate assay. Each isolate were tested for the production of protease, siderophore, cyanide hydrogen, indo...

Background: Collar rot is an important disease of lentil in India and causes significant yield loss annually. Considering the recent focus on development use environmentally feasible management strategies, objectives study was to identify resistant sources evaluation native antagonists as well plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) improvement lentil. Methods: Eleven popular varieties wer...

The in vitro effect of water activity (0.995, 0.98, 0.95, 0.90 and 0.85) and temperature (25 and 15 degrees C) on competing abilities of the biocontrol agent Penicillium oxalicum against Fusarium oxysporum fsp. lycopersici, a tomato pathogen, and Fusarium oxysporum fsp. gladioli, a gladiolus pathogen, was evaluated. The aim of this study was to assess the suitability of P. oxalicum to be applie...

Biological control is a crucial tool in the battle against biological invasions, but biocontrol agents can have a deleterious impact on native species. Recognition of risks associated with host shifting has increased the emphasis on host specificity of biocontrol agents for invasive weeds. However, recent studies indicate hostspecific biocontrol agents can also exhibit substantial nontarget eff...

Biological control involves the use of beneficial organisms, their genes, and/or products, such as metabolites, that reduce the negative effects of plant pathogens and promote positive responses by the plant. Disease suppression, as mediated by biocontrol agents, is the consequence of the interactions between the plant, pathogens, and the microbial community. Antagonists belonging to the genus ...

Current biological control methods to prevent pre-harvest aflatoxin contamination of corn, cottonseed, and ground and tree nuts involve field inoculation of non-aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus. To date, the efficacy of this approach requires annual reapplication of the biocontrol agent. The reason for this requirement is uncertain. To track the dispersal and test the longevity of these strains...

Bacterial cells can display different types of motility, due to the presence of external appendages such as flagella and type IV pili. To date, little information on the mechanisms involved in the motility of the Lysobacter species has been available. Recently, L. capsici AZ78, a biocontrol agent of phytopathogenic oomycetes, showed the ability to move on jellified pea broth. Pea broth medium i...