The Effect of <i>Bacillus velezensis</i> LJ02 Compounded with Different Fungi on the Growth of Watermelon Seedlings and Microbial Community Structure

Abstract

The application of beneficial microbial consortium can effectively improve plant disease resistance and its growth. Various fungi were compounded with Bacillus velezensis LJ02 and applied to watermelon plants in this paper. The results showed that the microbial consortium T2 (compounded Bacillus velezensis LJ02 with Aspergillus aculeatus 9) can effectively control gummy stem blight and powdery mildew in watermelon, while the control effect reached 83.56% and 70.93%, respectively (p Caulobacterales and Xanthomonadaceae significantly increased after applying T2 to the soil. Meanwhile, the internode length was significantly decreased 28% (p p < 0.05). In addition, the microbial consortium delays the maturity of watermelon vegetables. By studying the effects of microbial consortium on watermelon seedlings, our study provides a theoretical basis for the popularization and application of the compound inoculant.

Keywords

• <i>bacillus velezensis</i> LJ02
• microbial consortium
• disease resistance
• gummy stem blight
• powdery mildew
• rhizosphere microorganisms