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Water-soluble granules containing Bacillus megaterium for biological control of rice sheath blight: formulation, bacterial viability and efficacy testing

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Abstract

Endospores of B. megaterium were formulated in granule formulations with sodium alginate, lactose and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP K-30) by the wet granulation technique. The granule formulation exhibited good physical characteristics, such as high-water solubility and optimal viscosity, that would be suitable for spray application. The bacteria remained viable in the dry granule formulation at 109 c.f.u./g after 24 months storage at room temperature. Under laboratory conditions, aqueous solutions of the formulation showed high activity against mycelial growth of R. solani (99.64 ± 0.14% mycelial inhibition). High viability of the bacterial antagonist on leaf sheath and leaf blade at day 7 after spraying with the formulation was observed (approximately 106 c.f.u./g of plant). Application of an equivalent number of un-formulated endospores resulted in much loss of the bacterial endospores even 1 day after application. In a small pilot field study, an aqueous solution of the formulation (3%w/v) applied by spraying at days 1, 5 and 10 after pathogen inoculation of the rice plants was more effective in suppressing rice sheath blight disease than one application of a fungicide (Iprodione) at day 1. Additionally, rice plants sprayed with the aqueous solution of the granule formulation had higher panicle and whole kernel weights than those of fungicide-treated and control (untreated) plants.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D. Program (PHD/0077/2548) and the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology for providing research funds. We also thank the Faculty of Natural Resources and the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Prince of Songkla University for personal and laboratory assistance. Professor L.A. Damani is acknowledged for his critical reading of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90112, Thailand

    Amornrat Chumthong & Ruedeekorn Wiwattanapatapee

  2. Plant Production Technology Program, Faculty of Animal Sciences and Agricultural Technology, Silpakorn University, Phetchaburi IT campus, Cha-Am, Phetchaburi, 76120, Thailand

    Mana Kanjanamaneesathian

  3. Department of Earth Science, Faculty of Natural Resources, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90112, Thailand

    Ashara Pengnoo

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  1. Amornrat Chumthong
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  2. Mana Kanjanamaneesathian
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  3. Ashara Pengnoo
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  4. Ruedeekorn Wiwattanapatapee
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Correspondence to Ruedeekorn Wiwattanapatapee.

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Chumthong, A., Kanjanamaneesathian, M., Pengnoo, A. et al. Water-soluble granules containing Bacillus megaterium for biological control of rice sheath blight: formulation, bacterial viability and efficacy testing. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 24, 2499–2507 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-008-9774-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-008-9774-7

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