Bacillus, a plant-beneficial bacterium

Abstract

Plant growth promotion and biocontrol of plant pathogens are features of Bacillus inoculants applied for a more sustainable agriculture. Recent results mainly obtained with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens FZB42 and other representatives of the B. amyloliquefaciens plantarum subspecies support the hypothesis that stimulation of plant induced systemic resistance (ISR) by bacterial metabolites produced in the vicinity of plant roots is the key mechanism in the biocontrol action of Gram-positive endospore-forming bacteria, whereas a direct effect of the numerous antimicrobial metabolites in suppressing pathogens in the vicinity of plant roots seems to be of minor importance.