Halophilic bacteria induce resistance and promote growth of stem canker-infected tomato plants grown under greenhouse conditions

The present study was carried out to investigate potential of halophilic bacteria to induce plant resistance as well as to promote growth of tomato. The results indicated that halophilic bacteria were able to induce PR-proteins and total proteins in treating tomato. Among four halophilic bacteria tested, strain M3-23 of Virgibacillus marismortui was strongly able to induce PR-proteins, especially chitinase and glucanase produced by tomato plants infected by Botrytis cinerea. The tomato growth was also promoted by the halophilic bacteria. Furthermore, in vitro antifungal activities proved the most efficiency of strain J9 of Bacillus subtilis as well as the strain J31of Terribacillus halophilus on mycelial biomass reduction, hyphae destruction and inhibition of spore germination of the fungal pathogen. This study demonstrates the efficacy of the halophilic bacteria to improve tomato defense and protection against stem canker.