Unlocking Nature's Microbial Defenders: Genetic Mechanisms and Potential Against Monilinia spp. Pathogens

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Microbiology
• Plant Pathology

Background:

• Brown rot, caused by Monilinia spp., is a major threat to stone fruit production.
• Biological control using beneficial microorganisms offers a sustainable alternative to chemical treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and identify microorganisms with antagonistic activity against Monilinia species.
• To evaluate the potential of these microbes for biological control of brown rot in stone fruits.

Main Methods:

• Isolation of microorganisms from plum orchard soil and fruits.
• In vitro antagonism tests against Monilinia fructigena, M. fructicola, and M. laxa.
• Whole genome sequencing (WGS) for identification and characterization of antagonistic microbes and their genes.

Main Results:

• Six bacterial strains and two yeast-like fungi exhibited strong antagonistic activity, inhibiting pathogen growth by 45.5–84.6%.
• Identified promising biocontrol agents include Bacillus pumilus, B. velezensis, Lysinibacillus agricola, Pseudomonas chlororaphis, and Aureobasidium pullulans.
• Genome analysis confirmed the absence of human pathogenicity and identified genes related to antibiotic resistance, virulence, secondary metabolite synthesis, and plant growth promotion.

Conclusions:

• The isolated bacteria and fungi are effective antagonists against key Monilinia species.
• These microorganisms represent viable candidates for developing biological control strategies against brown rot in stone fruits.