Optimizing the Efficacy of Beneficial Bacteria Against Botrytis blight Disease in Petunias

This project investigates a sustainable approach to managing Botrytis blight, commonly known as gray mold, which significantly affects greenhouse crops such as petunias and geraniums. Botrytis cinerea, the fungus responsible for this disease, creates substantial challenges in greenhouse environments due to its ability to infect a wide variety of plants at multiple growth stages. Traditional chemical fungicides, while commonly used, contribute to environmental degradation and are increasingly ineffective as the fungus develops resistance. Our research explores the use of beneficial Pseudomonas bacteria as an eco-friendly alternative to chemical fungicides. We focused on evaluating the biocontrol efficacy of five specific Pseudomonas strains, assessing their ability to form biofilms, interact with each other, and ultimately suppress the growth of B. cinerea. Our study demonstrated that certain combinations of these bacteria significantly improved disease control, suggesting that strategic consortia of Pseudomonas strains could be a powerful tool in sustainable agriculture. By enhancing our understanding of microbial interactions and their application in managing plant diseases, this research contributes to the development of innovative, environmentally friendly solutions that reduce reliance on traditional fungicides and promote healthier, more sustainable greenhouse crop production.

本研究旨在探索一种可持续的灰霉病防控方案。灰霉病（Botrytis blight，英文俗称gray mold）可严重危害矮牵牛、天竺葵等温室作物；引发该病害的真菌为灰葡萄孢菌（Botrytis cinerea），其可侵染多种植物的多个生长阶段，给温室种植环境带来了严峻挑战。传统化学杀菌剂虽应用广泛，但会造成环境破坏，且随着该真菌产生抗药性，其防治效果日益下降。本研究探索了利用有益假单胞菌（Pseudomonas）作为化学杀菌剂的环保替代方案，重点评估了5株特定假单胞菌的生防效能，考察了它们形成生物被膜（biofilms）、相互间的交互作用，以及最终抑制灰葡萄孢菌生长的能力。研究表明，部分菌株组合可显著提升病害防控效果，这意味着经过优化配置的假单胞菌菌株联合体，可成为可持续农业中的有力防控手段。本研究通过加深对微生物互作及其在植物病害防控中应用的认知，助力开发创新型环保解决方案，以减少对传统杀菌剂的依赖，推动温室作物生产更健康、更可持续地发展。