Biocontrol of Soft Rot of Chinese Cabbage Using an Endophytic Bacterial Strain.

Soft rot caused by subsp. () is a major constraint in the production of Chinese cabbage. The objective of this study was to demonstrate that the causative agent may be successfully managed by KC-1, both and . Chinese cabbage seedlings were cultivated in organic substrate termed bio-organic substrate using a floating-seedling system with KC-1. This approach was applied in a greenhouse to evaluate the management of soft rot. The results showed that the extent of soft rot, as well as the transmission of to the stem progeny and its survival in the rhizosphere, was reduced following inoculation with KC-1. In contrast, the population diversity of KC-1 persisted in the Chinese cabbage stems after germination. These findings revealed that KC-1 was able to survive and suppress the growth of in Chinese cabbage and its rhizosphere, protecting the host from the pathogen. The use of KC-1 throughout the growth period of plants may be an effective strategy for the prevention of soft rot in Chinese cabbage.