1Department of Plant Pathology, Punjab Agricultural University, Regional Station, Faridkot, 151203, India
2Department of Plant Pathology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141004, India
3Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 10, 78457, Germany
*Corresponding author daljeetsingh40@yahoo.com
Amplification of the 16S rDNA of 21 isolates of Bacillus spp. was done using polymerase chain reaction. Finally the DNA sequence of three broad groups of Bacillus spp. comprising 18 isolates were studied. The DNAsequence of two isolates of Bacillus subtilis strains (BD 170 and AG 704) and one Bacillus purnilus (isolate KS 1) was found for the first time with new accession number. Most of the isolates of Bacillus spp. were highly effective against Erwinia arnylovora causing fire blight of apple in mixed culture experiment and under field condition. Among the isolates tested, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (Gene bank accession no. AY 651023) isolate name FDK 21 showed 99.1% and 100% effectiveness against fire blight in mixed culture experiment and on the blossom of apple under field conditions respectively. Further Talcum and whey powder were used to prepare the formulation of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens isolate name FDK 21, for its use as biocontrol agent for ecofriendly management of fire blight of apple and enhance the production of apple in Europe.
16S rDNA, Bacillus spp., Erwinia arnylovora, biocontrol agents, fire blight of apple
