Plant-Disease-Suppressive and Growth-Promoting Activities of Endophytic and Rhizobacterial Isolates Associated with .

This study was conducted to investigate the antagonistic potential of endophytic and rhizospheric bacterial isolates obtained from in suppressing and and promoting the growth of cucumber. Molecular identification of bacterial strains associated with confirmed that these strains belong to the , , , , , , , , , and genera. A dual culture assay showed that nine of the bacterial strains exhibited antifungal activity, four of which were effective against both pathogens. Strains B27 () and B28 () caused the highest percentage of inhibition towards (48.5% and 48.1%, respectively). growth was impeded by the B21 (, 44.7%) and B28 (, 51.1%) strains. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the strains caused abnormality in phytopathogens' mycelia. All of the selected bacterial strains showed good IAA production (>500 ppm). A paper towel experiment demonstrated that these strains improved the seed germination, root/shoot growth, and vigor index of cucumber seedlings. Our findings suggest that the bacterial strains from are suppressive to and and can promote cucumber growth. This appears to be the first study to report the efficacy of these bacterial strains from against and .