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Characterization of a bacterial strain T226 and its efficacy in controlling post-harvest citrus anthracnose

Summary

Researchers identified a beneficial bacterium called Lysobacter enzymogenes (strain T226) that effectively prevents citrus fruit rot caused by anthracnose fungus. This bacterium was isolated from soil and showed stable antimicrobial properties even after repeated culture transfers. When applied to citrus fruits, it reduced disease incidence by over 61% under natural storage conditions, performing better than the chemical fungicide prochloraz, making it a promising eco-friendly alternative for protecting stored citrus.

Background

Postharvest anthracnose of citrus caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides results in significant economic losses. Synthetic fungicides raise concerns about residues and pathogen resistance, creating demand for safer biological alternatives. Lysobacter species are recognized for antagonistic activity against plant pathogens but have not been reported for citrus anthracnose control.

Objective

To identify and characterize bacterial strain T226 isolated from sugarcane rhizosphere soil and evaluate its efficacy as a biocontrol agent against postharvest citrus anthracnose. The study aimed to comprehensively identify the strain, assess antagonistic stability, and determine in vivo biocontrol efficacy under artificial and natural infection conditions.

Results

Strain T226 was identified as Lysobacter enzymogenes with 100% bootstrap support. It demonstrated strong antagonistic activity against C. gloeosporioides (80.3% inhibition) and broad-spectrum activity against 10 fungi and 4 bacteria. Antagonistic activity remained stable at 75.2% average after eight continuous subcultures. In vivo efficacy reached 78.2% under artificial inoculation and 61.3% under natural infection conditions after 60 days.

Conclusion

Lysobacter enzymogenes T226 represents the first reported L. enzymogenes strain effective against citrus postharvest anthracnose, demonstrating high metabolic stability and efficacy comparable to or exceeding chemical fungicide prochloraz under natural conditions. Its broad-spectrum activity and consistent performance underscore considerable potential for practical application in postharvest citrus protection.
  • Published in:Frontiers in Microbiology,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 41158773, DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1678436
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