Abstract:Background Bacillus velezensis is a representative biocontrol bacterium, demonstrating excellent efficacy in controlling plant diseases.Objective To investigate the effects of fermentation medium composition and fermentation conditions on the biocontrol efficacy of the fermentation broth of B. velezensis strain A4.Methods Using Botrytis cinerea as the target pathogen and colony diameter as the primary evaluation indicator, we employed single-factor experiments coupled with response surface methodology to optimize the medium composition and fermentation conditions.Results The optimal fermentation medium was BPY medium, with the optimal carbon and nitrogen sources being sucrose (12.5 g/L) and serine (12.5 g/L), respectively. The optimal fermentation conditions were an inoculum size of 3%, initial pH 8.0, and a shaking speed of 93 r/min. Compared with the fermentation broth produced under pre-optimization conditions, the fermentation broth produced under optimized conditions significantly inhibited the growth of B. cinerea, decreasing the mycelial colony diameter by 12.34%, the mycelial dry weight by 43.98%, and the diameter and area of disease spots on tomato fruits by 24.44% and 39.71%, respectively.Conclusion We successfully optimized the fermentation medium and conditions for B. velezensis strain A4. This optimization significantly enhanced the biocontrol efficacy of its fermentation broth against B. cinerea. Our findings provide a theoretical foundation for the development and application of microbial agents based on B. velezensis strain A4.