ISHS Acta Horticulturae 504: VI Symposium on Stand Establishment and ISHS Seed Symposium
THE EFFECT OF LS 213 (BACILLUS PUMILUS) ON PLANT GROWTH PROMOTION AND SYSTEMIC ACQUIRED RESISTANCE IN MUSKMELON AND WATERMELON TRANSPLANTS AND SUBSEQUENT FIELD PERFORMANCE |
| Author: | C.S. Vavrina |
| Keywords: | biological control, induced systemic resistance, systemic acquired resistance, Cucumis melo, Citrullus lanatus |
| Abstract:
LS 213 (Gustafson, Plano, TX) is a soil-amendment formulation of Bacillus pumilus GB-87, an organism characterized as a biological plant resistance activator (i.e., promotes systemically acquired resistance). Bacillus pumilus amended soilless media was used to grow muskmelon and watermelon transplants. The B. pumilus amended transplants of both crops four weeks after seeding exhibited larger leaf areas, greater dry matter accumulation (muskmelon only), and more true leaves (watermelon only). Growth promotion once transplanted to the field was not indicated. A severe natural infestation of Phytophthora capsici in muskmelon appeared to advance more slowly on B. pumilus amended plants in the field. The only treatment effect on yield was noted for control muskmelons, which achieved a slightly greater overall average fruit weight than the B. pumilus, treated plants. This might suggest that the symbiotic nature of B. pumilus came at some energy expense or depletion of resources for the plant. Watermelon average fruit weight was unaffected by treatment with B. pumilus. | |
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