Microbiological Control of Bacterial Soft Rot Caused by Bacillus pumilus Od23 on Potato

Potato soft rot, caused by Bacillus pumilus Od23, greatly affect potato tuber quality in storage and cultivars of Mali and indicated that it can affect all potato cultivars. Bacteria isolated from soil rhizosphere samples of healthy Malian indigenous trees were screened for their antagonistic effect against this pathogen. Three actinomycetes isolates (RoN, G1P, and N1F) were the most effective microbioagents in suppressing the growth of the pathogen. The biological control essay showed the possibility of controlling potato soft rot by these three actinomycetes isolates under conservation conditions. These treatments significantly decreased soft rot compared with the untreated potato tuber slices. The microbiological control results of this study suggest that the actinomycetes isolates RoN, G1P and and J1N are effective microbioagents in controlling soft rot of potato and could be considered as promising alternative to chemical products.