Biological control of Fusarium wilt of sesame by Penicillium bilaiae 47M-1

The purpose of the present study was to explore the control of Fusarium wilt of sesame caused by Fusarium oxysporum via Penicillium sp. 47M-1. Isolate 47M-1 was isolated from rhizosphere soil samples of tobacco and identified as Penicillium bilaiae based on morphological characteristics and ITS-rDNA, beta-tubulin and calmodulin sequences. Isolate 47M-1 inhibited the mycelial growth of F. oxysporum by 81.3% and overgrew the colonies of F. oxysporum in co-cultures. In a potting test, the control efficiency of isolate 47M-1 against Fusarium wilt of sesame was 50%, which was superior to that of Bacillus subtilis (P = 0.022). There was no significant difference (P = 0.068) in the control of Fusarium wilt between treatment with the fungicide carbendazim and treatment with isolate 47M-1. The results also showed that isolate 47M-1 and its culture filtrate significantly promoted the growth of sesame. Quantitative real time-PCR detection showed that the response-related genes NPR1, Coi1, PR1, PR2 and PR3 were significantly upregulated under the combined stimulation of isolate 47M-1 and F. oxysporum compared to their expression under F. oxysporum treatment alone. In conclusion, isolate 47M-1 can control Fusarium wilt of sesame via multiple mechanisms, including competition, production of inhibitory substances, promotion of plant growth and induction of disease resistance.