The Potency of Some Bacteria to Inhibit The Growth of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae Causing Rice Bacterial Leaf Blight

Abstract

Bacterial leaf blight (BLB) disease caused by plant pathogenic bacteria Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) could lead to death of rice plants. Control of plant pathogenic bacteria can be performed using biological control agents. The aim of this research was to study the inhibitory ability of eight isolates of biocontrol bacteria against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) under greenhouse conditions. Isolates of biological agents used in the study were obtained from IPB Culture Collection (IPBCC), Department of Biology, IPB and microbial gene bank collection of Indonesian Center for Agriculture Biotechnology and Genetic Resources (BB Biogen), consisting of Pseudomonas aeruginosa C32a and C32b, P. fluorescens ATCC 13525 Pf , Serratia marcescens E31, Bacillus sp. I.5, B. cereus I.21 and II.14, and B. firmus E65 isolates. The methods used in the research i.e. hypersensitivity test, antagonistic test of biocontrol bacteria to Xoo, and in vivo application of biological agents in the greenhouse condition. Hypersensitivity test on tobacco plants using C32a and C32b inoculums showed characteristics of slightly leaf yellowing but did not cause necrosis. Injection using Xoo inoculum showed necrosis on tobacco leaves. Antagonist isolates i.e. C32a, C32b, Pf, I.21, and I.5 showed inhibitory activity against Xoo, whereas others isolates did not show inhibitory activity. In greenhouse experiments IR 64 rice plants were sprayed with biological control agents (107cfu/ml) at 7 days, 14 days, 28 days, and 42 days after planting. The results showed that C32a isolate could suppress better the lesion length of BLB than that of chemical control (copper sulphate). Growth measurement of rice plants were assessed on plant height, number of tillers, panicle number and grain weight. Rice plants spraying treatment with isolates E65, E31, C32a, C32b, I.21, Pf, and I.5 showed no difference with control of sterile distilled water. Spraying with each suspension isolate of I.21, E31, C32a, Pf, and C32b indicated no different in the panicle number, in addition rice production was higher in C32a, Pf, C32b, and I.21 treatments. Spraying with C32a isolates produced the highest grain production compared with that of other isolates.