Endophytic Bacteria as Biocontrol Agents of Tomato Bacterial Wilt Disease

Abstract

Ralstonia solanacearum is a tomato pathogen causing wilt disease which can lose crop production up to 100%. This problem also has economical impact to Indonesia, though controlling this pathogen has been done before. Biological control using endophytic bacteria is one of alternative control methods to support agriculture sustainability. The objective of these experiments are isolating endophytic bacteria taken from healthy tomato stems and root as well as investigating patogens as biocontrol agents of tomato bacterial wilt disease. Among 10 isolates found, only Ps1 and Ps8 can inhibit R. solanacearum based on antagonistic test in vitro using seed coat method and 4-7 mm inhibition zone forming. In vivo test was applied in green house in 30 days old of tomatoes using endophytic bacteria by the root soak technique. The result shows Ps1 and Ps8 within 15-16 days incubation period have suppressed 8.07%-9.19% pathogen attack.