Exploration of the Potential of Bacillus spp. as an Antagonist and PGPR against Stem and Pod Rot of Groundnut.

Background: Stem and pod rot is an economically important soil borne disease of groundnut caused by Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. resulting in significant yield losses across the globe. Bacillus spp. is rod-shaped and gram-positive bacterium which is predominantly found in the soil. Hence, considering the importance of the disease, the present investigation was carried out to evaluate the indigenous Bacillus spp. for plant growth promotion and to inhibit the pathogen in groundnut. Methods: Totally nineteen Bacillus spp. isolates from healthy groundnut rhizosphere and their antagonistic potential was recorded. The molecular characterization of five efficient Bacillus spp. was carried out using 16S rDNA. Later, morphological and biochemical characterization and plant growth promoting traits were recorded. Result: All nineteen isolates of Bacillus spp. showed antagonistic potential against S. rolfsii. Five Bacillus spp. isolates which showed higher inhibition of the pathogen were identified as B. subtilis, B. pacific, B. cereus, two isolates belonging to B. tropicus through molecular technique. The morphological, biochemical characters and growth promoting traits were recorded.