Abstract

For the purpose of acquiring microbial agents that can be utilized to billogically control the major airborne disease to apple trees, such as canker(Valsa ceratosperma), the effective microorgaisms were isolated, tested for antagonistic activity to the pathogen causing major disease to apple trees and identifed. Screening of more than 3, 000 species of microorganisms collected in nature for them antagonistic action to the pathogen, Valsa ceratosperma causing disease to apple tree resulted in selection of effective species. Out of the 11 species, one species designated as CAP141 demonstrated outstanding activity. The bacterial strain, CAP141 exerted antagonistic efficiency of 65% on Valsa ceratosperma. The CAP141 was identified as a bacterial strain to Bacillus subtilis based on morphology, culture conditions, and physio-biochemical characteristics.

Keywords

• Valsa ceratosperma;
• antagonistic microorganism;
• CAP141;
• biological control;
• apple tree