Biocontrol activity of Siderophores producing Bacillus licheniformis DS3 against several pathogenic fungi in Black gram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper]

Plant growth promoting Bacillus licheniformis DS3 strain isolated from Agriculture field soils of Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India. The identification of bacteria was done by 16 S rRNA sequencing analysis. Siderophore production by microorganisms in solid medium, Chrome Azurol’ S (CAS) Agar plate assay was used. Siderophore produced by the strain Bacillus licheniformis DS3 was identified as hydroxamate type. Maximum siderophore production was achieved from 96 h of incubation period with 14.4µg/ml. Carbon and nitrogen sources on the production medium also greatly influenced the siderophore production. Maximum siderophore production 18.2 µg/ml was obtained with glucose as the carbon source and ammonium sulphate 14.6 µg/ml used as nitrogen source. This strain showed significant fungal activity against Aspergillus niger, Alternaria solani, Fusarium oxysporium and Fusarium solani. Therefore our results elucidate that the Bacillus licheniformis DS3 strain shows potential activity and biological agent for the control of several fungal pathogens of black gram plant.