Plant Growth Promotion and Biocontrol Potential of Various Phytopathogenic Fungi Using Gut Microbes of Allomyrina dichotoma Larva

Abstract

This research was executed to select beneficial antagonists from digestive organ of Allomyrina dichotoma larva that can be put on environment friendly control against phytopathogenic fungi. We screened 38 bacterial strains inhibiting mycelial growth against eight plant pathogens through dual culture assay. The 10 strains among 38 bacterial strains were selected as beneficial microbes showing antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea, Plasmodiophora brassicae, Colletotrichum acutatum and Phytophthora capsici through under greenhouse pot trials. The 10 bacterial strains that shown strongest antifungal activity were classified into 3 genera and 10 species, and identified as the genus Bacillus (DM146, DM152, DH2, and DH16), Paenibacillus (DF30, DH14, and DM142) and Streptomyces (DF137, DM48, and DH92) by morphological characteristics and 16s rRNA gene sequence. The 10 bacterial strains had solubilizing activity of insoluble phosphates, production of IAA (indole-3-acetic acid), β-1,3-glucanase and protease. Among the 10 bacterial strains, DM152 strain was produced significant enhancement of all growth parameters of chili pepper and tomato seedlings under greenhouse condition. Thus, this study demonstrated that gut microbes of Allomyrina dichotoma larva will be useful as a potential biocontrol agent against plant pathogens and biofertilizer.