Journal of Biotechnology & Biomaterials
Open Access

Abstract

Rice is an imperative food crop of Pakistan, which is prone to bacterial leaf blight (BLB) caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo). The disease is destructive in most of the Basmati rice growing areas of Pakistan. The significant damage caused by this disease need the development of strategies to control it with eco-friendly means. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are the group of beneficial bacteria that can play a vital role directly or indirectly by decreasing or preventing some of the harmful effects of phytopathogens. For the development of biopesticides for the biocontrol of BLB, antagonistic bacteria have been isolated, characterized and then evaluated in the field. In addition to disease suppression, the selected bacteria significantly increased yield under field conditions. The production of siderophores, hydrogen cyanide and proteases were found to be partly responsible mechanisms for the suppression of causal pathogen. Colonization of antagonistic bacteria was studied under sterile as well as in field conditions using immunofluorescence marker employed in combination with confocal laser scanning microscopy. Development and application of multi-strain formulation for control of BLB was studied in combination with binding agents under Net-House conditions. Mixed inoculum of antagonistic bacteria suppressed the disease incidence more effectively when used as an aerial spray in combination with binding agents. The present studies highlight the significance of using bacterial antagonists with multiple plant growth promoting traits for the biocontrol of plant pathogens like Xoo. These features are being exploited for the development of biopesticides for rice against BLB causing pathogen.

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