Control of banana postharvest anthracnose by Brevibacillus sp. strains

Abstract:

[Background] Banana anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum musae is the main postharvest disease and causes significant economic losses. [Objective] Antifungal activities of Brevibacillus sp. strains FJAT-17214 and FJAT-10657 were evaluated. The strains were identified in further. [Methods] The antifungal activities of Brevibacillus sp. strains FJAT-17214 and FJAT-10657 were evaluated using the methods of the inhibitory zone test and mycelium growth rate. Strains FJAT-17214 and FJAT-10657 were identified based on morphology, specific PCR detection and 16S rRNA gene sequence. [Results] Strains FJAT-17214 and FJAT-10657 had antagonistic activities against C. musae. The antagonistic activities of fermentation broth of these two strains increased with the extending of incubation time. The inhibition rates of C. musae by strains FJAT-17214 and FJAT-10657 reached to 83.90% and 85.84%, respectively, when 50 mL of fermentation supernatant was added to the medium. The inoculating experiments on banana showed that strains FJAT-17214 and FJAT-10657 could effectively inhibit the spread of C. musae, with the inhibition rates of 67.88% and 54.55%, respectively. In addition, the β-1,3-glucanase activities in the strains FJAT-17214 and FJAT-10657 treated banana fruits were significantly higher than that of the control. On the basis of the morphological features, specific detect and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strains FJAT-17214 and FJAT-10657 were separately identified as Brevibacillus brevis and Brevibacillus panacihumi. [Conclusion] Strains FJAT-17214 and FJAT-10657 have strong control effects on banana postharvest anthracnose. It could be used as the biocontrol agents for banana postharvest storage.