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POSTERS: Biological Control I

P-057 - Screening of beneficial microorganisms to control bacterial blight of Anthurium

Monday, August 4, 2025
3:45 PM - 4:30 PM HST
Location: Exhibit Hall 3

    Presenting Author(s)

  • JC

    Jin-Tong Chen

    Associate Researcher
    Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute, Floricultural Experiment Branch
    YUNLIN, Yunlin, Taiwan (Republic of China)

    • Author(s)

  • ML

    Mei-Ju Lin

    Assistant Researcher
    Taiwan Agricultural Research Insititute
    Taichung, Taichung, Taiwan (Republic of China)

  • CT

    Chia-Hsin Tsai

    Associate Researcher
    Taiwan Agricultural Research Insititute
    TAICHUNG, Taichung, Taiwan (Republic of China)

Abstract Text: Anthurium is a widely cultivated ornamental plant, but bacterial wilt caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. dieffenbachia (Xad) causes significant economic losses in commercial production. In Taiwan, no recommended chemical treatments are currently available for bacterial leaf blight in Anthurium, and the over-reliance on chemical control methods may contribute to the development of pathogen resistance. Therefore, it is crucial to explore environmentally friendly disease control strategies. This study investigates the potential of microorganisms isolated from compost as antagonistic bacteria for environmentally friendly control of bacterial wilt in Anthurium. Thirty-eight microbial isolates were screened for antagonistic activity against Xad using a growth inhibition assay. Of these isolates, 7 isolates had inhibition zones exceeding 30 mm, with isolate CB34 showing the most antibacterial activity. The ability of selected microbial strains to reduce bacterial blight of Anthurium was evaluated in a greenhouse. Four isolates, CB34, CB13, A7, and CB16, exhibited significant antagonistic potential and effectively alleviated symptoms of bacterial wilt. Treatment with the CB34 culture fluid reduced disease severity in Anthurium leaves from 78.3±14.8% to 10.0±7.6%. Bacterial identification via 16S rDNA sequencing revealed that isolate CB34 was Bacillus velezensis, CB13 was Bacillus aryabhattai, and A7 and CB16 were identified as Bacillus spp. The research aims to use beneficial microorganisms to control plant diseases, reduce the use of chemical pesticides and promote plant health.