Screening of Endophytic Antagonistic Bacterium from Phellodendron amurense and Their Biocontrol Effects against Canker Rot.

Thirty-four strains of bacteria were isolated from Phellodendron amurense. Using Nectria haematococca as an indicator strain, the best strain, B18, was obtained by the growth rate method. The morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics of strain B18 and its 16S DNA gene sequence were identified, and the biocontrol effect of strain B18 was assessed in pot and field tests, as well as in a field-control test. Drilling methods were used to determine the antibacterial activity of metabolites from strain B18 and their effects on the growth of pathogen mycelia and spores. The best bacteriostatic rate was 85.4%. B18 can hydrolyse starch and oxidize glucose but does not produce gas; a positive result was obtained in a gelatine liquefaction test. According to 16S DNA gene sequencing, strain B18 is Bacillus methylotrophicus (GenBank accession number: MG457759). The results of pot and field-control trials showed 98% disease control when inoculating 10⁸ cfu/ml of the strain. The disease control effect of the B18 culture liquid (concentrations of 10⁸, 2 × 10⁶, 10⁶, 5 × 10⁵ and 2.5 × 10⁵ cfu/ml) in the field-control test was higher than 80%, and the cure rate of the original delivery solution was 96%. Therefore, in the practical forestry production, a 2.5 × 10⁵ cfu/ml culture liquidshould be applied in advance to achieve good control effects.