Biocontrol of mildew with Bacillus subtilis in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) seeds during germination

The bitter gourd seed has a thick, hard seed coat. Mildew often occurs during germination and causes uneven and low rates of seed germination. However, the problems caused by mildew can be overcome by treating seeds with hot water, by soaking in water, or by using microorganisms. Seeds of the 'Ching Pi' bitter gourd were treated in a water bath at 60 degrees C for 10 min and then soaked in tap water at 25 degrees C for 24 h. The resulting germination percentage was 86.7%, and the resulting percentage of mildewed seeds was 10%. The biocontrol potential of three commercially available Bacillus subtilis solutions was examined. For seeds primed with Huodijun B. subtilis solution, the germination percentage was 73.3% and the mildewed percentage 6%. In dual cultures, the antibiotic content in the Huodijun B. subtilis solution was significantly greater than in Yunghsing and Huolibao, the other B. subtilis solutions examined. B. subtilis effectively inhibited the growth of Rhizoctonia solani mycelium and caused abnormal mycelial growth. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.