Rhizobacteria for Reducing Biotic Stress in Spring Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Caused by Phytopathogenic Fungi

Introduction: Wheat is an important agricultural crop. Its yield largely depends on the phytopathogenic load of soils and seed material. In the difficult climatic conditions of Kuzbass, the search for biological means of protecting wheat is relevant to ensure food security in the region.

Purpose: of the study is to evaluate the growth stimulating properties and antagonistic activity of bacterial isolates of the wheat rhizosphere, and to select promising options for the creation of commercial biofungicidal preparations.

Materials and Methods: To isolate promising strains of rhizobacteria, we used sequential cultivation of the wheat rhizosphere on a nitrogen-free nutrient medium, on a medium with a sparingly soluble phosphorus compound, and on a medium with a low content of nutrients. To select representative isolates, the seed germination index was examined; ability to fix nitrogen and solubilize phosphorus. For isolates characterized by high activity, the ability to synthesize phytohormones was studied using the spectrophotometric method and antagonistic activity against phytopathogens using the agar block method. Identification of promising rhizobacteria was carried out based on biochemical characteristics. The study of the effect of bacterial isolates on the growth and development of wheat under biotic stress conditions was carried out according to generally accepted methods.

Results: : During the study, 17 isolates were isolated, 2 of which were characterized by maximum activity in terms of growth-stimulating and antagonistic indicators. Biochemical identification showed that they were Bacillus velezensis and Pantoea ananatis. Bacillus velezensis is characterized by the following growth-stimulating properties: nitrogen fixation (850 μg/ml), phosphorus solubilization (1.60 cm), germination index (1.26), synthesis of indolyl-3-acetic acid (8.16 mg/ml), gibberellic acid (366.90 µg/ml) and kinetin (11.86 µg/ml). The Pantoea ananatis strain exhibited the following growth-stimulating properties: nitrogen fixation (80 μg/ml), phosphorus solubilization (2.00 cm), germination index (1.19), synthesis of indolyl-3-acetic acid (9.00 mg/ml), gibberellic acid acid (346.20 µg/ml) and kinetin (6.28 µg/ml). The strains had high antagonistic activity against the phytopathogenic fungi Fusarium graminearum F-877, Botrytis cinerea F-1006, Bipolaris sorokiniana F-529. Testing of the strains on wheat seeds infected with phytopathogens showed that they successfully reduce plant biotic stress.

Conclusions: The further use of strains as biological control agents for the development of complex preparations aimed at improving wheat nutrition is promising.

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