article · Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control
Powdery mildew caused by the fungus Podosphaera xanthii represents a major threat to squash cultivation, leading to severe yield reductions. Several biological control agents, comprising five Bacillus species and two Trichoderma species, were evaluated under laboratory and greenhouse conditions to determine their efficacy against this pathogen. Every tested bio-agent significantly curtailed the germination of fungal conidia. Applying these agents, particularly Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilus, and Trichoderma harzianum, notably reduced powdery mildew symptoms, overall disease severity, and the area under the disease progress curve. Treated squash plants exhibited enhanced activity of key plant defence enzymes, namely catalase, peroxidase, and polyphenol oxidase. Microscopic examinations confirmed structural abnormalities and suppressed development in the fungus on treated leaves. Furthermore, the application of these microbial agents led to marked improvements in plant growth and squash yield compared with untreated controls, demonstrating their potential as sustainable alternatives to chemical fungicides.
Powdery mildew causes severe harvest losses in squash, an essential vegetable crop globally. Conventional control relies heavily on synthetic fungicides that can harm human health and contaminate natural environments. Demonstrating that beneficial bacteria and fungi can suppress fungal development, trigger natural plant defences, and boost crop yields provides a practical, environmentally sound pathway towards sustainable disease management in agriculture.
The findings could enable the development of microbial bio-fungicide formulations to protect squash crops from fungal diseases. Target users include biopesticide manufacturers, agricultural input suppliers, and vegetable growers seeking non-chemical plant protection options. Having been tested exclusively in laboratory and greenhouse environments, the technology is at an applied research stage and requires open-field validation, formulation stability assessments, and regulatory registration before commercial deployment.
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Squash (Cucurbita pepo L.), one of the most important vegetable crops for human nutrition all over the world, is infected by many diseases, particularly powdery mildew caused by Podosphaera xanthii (syn. Sphaerotheca fuliginea), which is considered the most serious disease causing yield losses. This research study was conducted to investigate the role of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus chitinosporus, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus polymexa, Trichoderma harzianum, and Trichoderma viridi on squash leaves infected with P. xanthii under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Results indicated that all treatments significantly inhibited the conidial germination of P. xanthii than the control. A significant decrease in the disease symptoms, severity, and the area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) was registered in squash plants sprayed with the tested bio-agents, particularly B. subtilis, B. pumilus, and T. harzianum. The activity of defense-related enzymes, i.e., catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO), were significantly upregulated as results of most treatments. Light and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) investigation showed that the morphological shape of P. xanthii was abnormal and the pathogen growth was limited in bio-agent-treated plants compared to control plants that showed dramatic infection. Bio-agent treatments significantly increased growth and yield attributes of squash plants over control. Overall, the results showed possibility of using the tested bio-agents to control squash powdery mildew disease as an alternative to fungicides’ use that is harmful for human health and polluting the environment.
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DOI: 10.1186/s41938-018-0058-8
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