-The antagonistic activities of 20 Bacillus isolates were tested with dual culture and greenhouse conditions against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici (FORL) race 0, the causal agent of Fusarium crown and root rot of tomato. Under dual culture, 10 isolates inhibited mycelial growth > 38% and the most effective inhibited fungal growth > 50%. The 20 Bacillus isolates were tested for production of volatiles, cyanide, antibiotics, and phosphorus solubilisation; 15 isolates produced volatiles that inhibited growth of pathogens, 9 isolates produced cyanide, 10 produced antibiotics, and five solubilised phosphorus. Greenhouse experiments with the same 20 isolates revealed the effectiveness of 12 strains, which increased the percentage of healthy plants in the tested cultivar from 66 to 96%. The best disease control was achieved by isolates B11, B5, B17, and B18. However, B11 and B17 were the only isolates that produced cyanide, antibiotics, solubilised phosphate and showed 44% inhibition of fungal growth. The selected strains could be considered in plant growth promotion and biological disease control.
In Tunisia, the Joogar constructed wetland treating rural wastewater generates annually a considerable biomass of Arundo donax and Typha latifolia with sewage sludge. These by-products can present a waste management challenge for such systems. The present work focused on recycling of macrophyte residues by co-composting with sludge. Different quality physico-chemical parameters (temperature, pH, organic matter (OM), carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio, nutrients, and heavy metals) and biological factors (total and faecal bacterial count and germination test) were monitored during the composting cycle. Compost phytotoxicity was assessed through amendment assays. At the end of the composting cycle, temperature, and pH were stabilized at 33°C and 7.34, respectively. OM showed a significant mineralization and the C/N ratio was reduced from 31.7 to 9.0. In addition, pathogens destruction occurred at the later stages of the process. The final germination index of 96% indicated, with the other parameters, the stability and maturity of the macrophyte residues compost. The amendment assay applying compost to soil in a ratio of 1:2 v/v significantly improved the Lens culinaris growth by providing nutrients. The composting process appeared to be as a suitable way of valorisation of constructed wetland wastes, producing stabilized compost that could be sufficient for soil fertilization and plant growth improvement through a beneficial nutrients input.
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