Crop improvement and disease suppression by a Bacillus spp. SR2 from pea nut rhizosphere.

An antibiotic producing Bacillus strain SR2, isolated from pea nut rhizosphere, showed in vitro antibiosis against many known plant pathogens. Seed bacterization with this strain showed an enhancement in seed germination, shoot height, root length, fresh and dry weights in four crop plants. A multiple drug resistant strain, SR2+, used to monitor root colonization confirmed the root colonization by the organism. Seed bacterization, reduced the number of chick pea wilted plants in wilt-sick soil, making the organism a potential bio-control agent against chick pea wilt.