BV01 Has Broad-Spectrum Biocontrol Potential and the Ability to Promote Plant Growth.

To evaluate the potential of a bacterial strain as a fungal disease control agent and plant growth promoter, its inhibitory effects on phytopathogens such as , , , , . , , , and were investigated. The results showed that the inhibitory rates in dual-culture and sterile filtrate assays against these eight phytopathogens ranged from 57% to 83% and from 36% to 92%. The strain was identified as based on morphological and physiological characterization as well as phylogenetic analyses of rRNA and the gyrase subunit A protein () regions. The results demonstrated that was able to produce fungal cell-wall-degrading enzymes, namely, protease, cellulase, and β-1,3-glucanase, and the growth-promotion substances indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and siderophore. Furthermore, . BV01 had significant control effects on wheat root rot and pepper wilt in a greenhouse. Potted growth-promotion experiments displayed that BV01 significantly increased the height, stem diameter, and aboveground fresh and dry weights of wheat and pepper. The results imply that . BV01, a broad-spectrum biocontrol bacterium, is worth further investigation regarding its practical applications in agriculture.