A new approach for selecting biocontrol bacterial agents against Fusarium

Abstract

Fusariosis is a widespread infection by fungi of the genus Fusarium, affecting a wide range of crops and causing significant economic losses in global agriculture. Biological control using antagonistic microorganisms represents an effective and environmentally friendly strategy for managing fusariosis. In particular, bacteria are known for their ability to secrete fungicidal compounds while promoting root growth, to compete for iron, and to induce systemic resistance in plants. Conventionally, microorganisms with antifungal activity are identified through in vitro screening on agar media. However, this approach does not account for the influence of the host plant on microbial activity at the initial screening stage. Since environmental conditions can significantly affect microbial behavior, this may lead to the selection of strains that are active only in the absence of plants or the rejection of those that exhibit activity only in their presence. The aim of this study was to develop a method for evaluating antimicrobial activity in the presence of agricultural plants and to compare the results with those from conventional screening.