Inoculation of Bv-116 and its bio-organic fertilizer serve as an environmental friendly biocontrol strategy against cucumber wilt.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Bv-116 and its bio-organic fertilizer on the control of cucumber wilt caused by f. sp. (FOC), the promotion of growth of cucumber seedlings, and the soil microbial community. Bv-116 exhibited an inhibition rate of 84.93% against FOC, as well as broad-spectrum inhibitory activities against other soil-borne plant pathogenic fungi. Fermentation products of Bv-116 destroyed the cell structure of FOC and inhibited the growth of FOC mycelium. These products were identified as volatile antimicrobial gases, proteases and cellulases. In the greenhouse pot experiment, both Bv-116 and its bio-organic fertilizer exhibited significant promoting effects on cucumber growth, and a significant reduction in the incidence and disease severity index of cucumber wilt ( < 0.05). Analysis of the microbial community structure of cucumber rhizosphere soil revealed that inoculation of Bv-116 and its bio-organic fertilizer increased the abundance of genera with biocontrol capabilities against plant pathogens. In addition, inoculation of the bio-organic fertilizer reversed the excessive proliferation of and Acidobacteria. Our results suggest the potential of inoculating Bv-116 and its bio-organic fertilizer as an environmentally friendly biocontrol strategy against cucumber wilt.