Bacillus spp. produce a variety of compounds involved in the biocontrol of plant pathogens and promotion of plant growth, which makes them potential candidates for most agricultural and biotechnological applications. Bacilli exhibit antagonistic activity by excreting extracellular metabolites such as antibiotics, cell wall hydrolases, and siderophores. Additionally, Bacillus spp. improve plant response to pathogen attack by triggering induced systemic resistance (ISR). Besides being the most promising biocontrol agents, Bacillus spp. promote plant growth via nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, and phytohormone production. Antagonistic and plant growth-promoting strains of Bacillus spp. might be useful in formulating new preparations. Numerous studies of a wide range of plant species revealed a steady increase in the number of Bacillus spp. identified as potential biocontrol agents and plant growth promoters. Among different mechanisms of action, it remains unclear which individual or combined traits could be used as predictors in the selection of the best strains for crop productivity improvement. Due to numerous factors that influence the successful application of Bacillus spp., it is necessary to understand how different strains function in biological control and plant growth promotion, and distinctly define the factors that contribute to their more efficient use in the field.

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Clove rot caused by Fusarium spp. is a very important disease of common garlic (Allium sativum L.) occuring in many areas of the world. However, there is a lack of data about biocontrol of these pathogens. Bacillus species are attractive for research due to their potential use in the biological control of fungal diseases. The aim of this study was to select effective biocontrol agents from a series of indigenous Bacillus spp. isolated from soil. Bacterial isolates positive for hydrolytic enzymes production were screened for antifungal activity against Fusarium spp. isolated from infected garlic cloves. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses were used for molecular identification of bacterial (16S rDNA gene) and fungal (EF-1α gene) isolates, and detection of biosynthetic genes for antimicrobial lipopeptides (surfactin, iturin, bacillomycin D and fengycin) in Bacillus spp. The obtained results confirmed the presence of Fusarium tricinctum, F. oxysporum f. sp. cepae, F. proliferatum, F. acuminatum and F. verticillioides as the causal agents of garlic clove rot. Four bacterial isolates identified as Bacillus subtilis exhibited the highest antagonistic effect during in vitro testing of antifungal activity (up to 71% reduction in fungal growth), and caused a significant suppression of garlic clove infection (up to 58% reduction in rot symptoms) in situ. Analysis of the antifungal compounds involved in the antagonistic activity of the examined isolates revealed their ability to produce the antibiotic lipopeptide surfactin. The most effective isolates of B. subtilis could be used as potential biocontrol agents of garlic clove rot.

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Bio-priming is a new technique of seed treatment that improves seed germination, vigor, crop growth and yield. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Bradyrhizobium japonicum (commercial strains) and Bacillus megaterium (newly isolated strains) as a single inoculant and co-inoculant during seed bio-priming to improve seed germination and initial seedling growth of two soybean cultivars. The treated seeds were subjected to germination test (GT), cold test (CT) and accelerated aging test (AAT). B. megaterium significantly improved all parameters in GT and CT; final germination, shoot length, root length, root dry weight, and seedling vigor index in AAT, as compared to control. In addition, co-inoculation significantly increased all parameters except shoot dry weight in GT; all parameters in CT; germination energy, shoot length, root length, and seedling vigor index in AAT, in comparison to the control. Moreover, Br. japonicum significantly improved the germination energy, shoot length, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, and seedling vigor index in GT; all parameters in CT; shoot length, root length, and seedling vigor index in AAT, compared with non-primed seeds. Thus, B. megaterium strains could be used in soybean bio-priming as a potential single inoculant and co-inoculant, following proper field evaluation.

Background: Bacillus spp., known to promote growth and reduce disease of various field and vegetable crops, are frequently found in soils. The objective of the study was to select effective Bacillus spp. isolates with multiple plant growth properties and antifungal activities and to examine their effect on germination of soybean. Methods: Bacterial isolates were screened for production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and siderophores and solubilization of phosphate. The ability of bacterial isolates to inhibit the growth of seven phytopathogenic fungi affecting soybean was determined using a dual plate assay. Bacillus spp. were further selected and examined in a seed germination test. Result: All Bacillus spp. isolates were positive for IAA production, while siderophore production and P-solubilization were observed in 80% and 20% bacterial isolates, respectively. Bacillus spp. exhibited the highest antifungal activity against Diaporthe caulivora, followed by Diaporthe sojae, Diaporthe eres, Diaporthe longicolla and Macrophomina phaseolina and the least antagonistic effect toward Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium subglutinans. Selected isolates of B. subtilis significantly affected final germination, shoot length, root length, shoot dry weight and root dry weight of two soybean cultivars. The most effective Bacillus spp. isolates could be used as potential inoculants for improving soybean productivity.

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) represent a wide variety of bacteria inhabiting the root surface and root vicinity. They are directly or indirectly involved in promoting plant growth and development via production and secretion of various regulatory compounds in the rhizosphere. PGPR are generally beneficial to a wide range of crops including maize. The main objective of this study was to determine the effect of PGPR strains on the microbial abundance in maize rhizosphere. The trial was conducted at Rimski Šančevi experimental field of Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops in Novi Sad, Serbia. The trial included five maize hybrids (NS 3014, NS 4015, NS 5043, NS 6010 and NS 6030) developed at the Institute and three treatments with microorganisms. Non-inoculated treatment was control. Inoculation was performed with Bacillus Q7, Pseudomonas PS2 and their mixture with Azotobacter chroococcum (Q7 + PS2 + AC). Application method was incorporation immediately before planting with liquid culture of strains (density 10 9 CFU/ml). It was observed that the certain treatment with rhizobacteria increased the number of all three studied microbial groups in the rhizosphere of the same hybrid. The best effect on the number of microorganisms in the rhizosphere of NS 6010 was achieved with Q7 + PS2 + AC, in NS 5043 with Q7 and with PS2 in NS 4015. The results obtained in this study indicate the importance of PGPR in crop production, which requires a constant expansion of knowledge about the mutual interactions of plants and microorganisms.

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