Control, by Brassica seed pomace combined with Pseudomonas boreopolis, of damping-off of watermelon caused by Pythium sp.

A total of 57 isolates of fungi, bacteria, and actinomycetes were screened for their ability to degrade the glucosinolate sinigrin. Pseudomonas boreopolis was the most effective among 26 isolates having the capacity to degrade sinigrin. Treatment with ground Brassica seed pomace and Pseudomonas boreopolis resulted in the release of volatile compounds. Gas-chromatography analyses allowed to identify allyl isothiocyanate and 3-butenyl isothiocyanate as the major volatile compounds released from enzymatic hydrolysis of glucosinolates by Pseudomonas boreopolis. These compounds had strong fungicidal activity against Rhizoctonia solani AG-4, Sclerotium rolfsii, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Pythium aphanidermatum, and Phytophthora capsici as revealed by reduced mycelial growth. They were also responsible for reducing the survival of zoospores and oospores of P. aphanidermatum. A large-scale greenhouse trial showed that amendment of growth media (Bas Van Buuren medium No. 4, 7mL; soil, 3 g) with 1% (mass fraction) of the ground Brassica seed pomace and Pseudomonas boreopolis (1 x 10(8) to 1.8 x 10(8) cfu/mL) was effective in controlling damping-off of watermelon caused by Pythium sp., resulting in increased production of healthy, marketable seedlings.