Selection and Characterization of a <i>Bacillus</i> Strain for Potential Application in Industrial Production of White Button Mushroom (<i>Agaricus bisporus</i>)
Rita Büchner,
Mónika Vörös,
Henrietta Allaga,
András Varga,
Attila Bartal,
András Szekeres,
Sarolta Varga,
Judit Bajzát,
Nóra Bakos-Barczi,
András Misz,
Csaba Csutorás,
Lóránt Hatvani,
Csaba Vágvölgyi,
László Kredics
Affiliations
Rita Büchner
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép Fasor 52., 6726 Szeged, Hungary
Mónika Vörös
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép Fasor 52., 6726 Szeged, Hungary
Henrietta Allaga
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép Fasor 52., 6726 Szeged, Hungary
András Varga
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép Fasor 52., 6726 Szeged, Hungary
Attila Bartal
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép Fasor 52., 6726 Szeged, Hungary
András Szekeres
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép Fasor 52., 6726 Szeged, Hungary
Sarolta Varga
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép Fasor 52., 6726 Szeged, Hungary
Judit Bajzát
Új Champignons Ltd., Bartók Béla út 162., 1224 Budapest, Hungary
Nóra Bakos-Barczi
Új Champignons Ltd., Bartók Béla út 162., 1224 Budapest, Hungary
András Misz
Új Champignons Ltd., Bartók Béla út 162., 1224 Budapest, Hungary
Csaba Csutorás
Department of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Institute of Food Sciences, Eszterházy Károly Catholic University, Leányka utca 4-8., 3300 Eger, Hungary
Lóránt Hatvani
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép Fasor 52., 6726 Szeged, Hungary
Csaba Vágvölgyi
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép Fasor 52., 6726 Szeged, Hungary
László Kredics
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép Fasor 52., 6726 Szeged, Hungary
White button mushroom—Agaricus bisporus (J.E.Lange) Imbach—is among the most popular cultivated mushrooms worldwide. The most serious challenge in industrial mushroom production is the green mold disease caused by Trichoderma species. Our aim was to isolate and examine bacterial strains from mushroom casing material for their potential use as biocontrol agents. Twenty-seven bacterial strains were isolated and tested against mold pathogens of white button mushroom. The Bacillus velezensis strain SZMC 25431 was selected for further examination and tested under simulated Agaricus cultivation conditions against T. aggressivum SZMC 23834 in a 1200-L Fitotron SGC120 standard plant growth chamber. Our results showed that the bacterial treatment was effective against the pathogen in all cases, but the best results were achieved at an application concentration of 105 cells mL−1. Industrial-scale experiments were also carried out in Agaricus growing houses with a bearing surface of 480 m2: the bacterial suspension was mixed in water tanks applied for daily irrigation. The results suggest that the bacterial treatment may even increase the crop yield of A. bisporus. Based on our results, we concluded that the selected B. velezensis strain may potentially be used for biological and integrated treatment in Agaricus cultivation.
