Archives of Phytopathology and Plant Protection (2009) 42, 666-675

M.R. Swain and R.C. Ray (2009)
Oxalic acid production by Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht and Botryodiplodia theobromae Pat., post-harvest fungal pathogens of yams (Dioscorea rotundata L.) and detoxification by Bacillus subtilis CM1 isolated from culturable cowdung microflora
Archives of Phytopathology and Plant Protection 42 (7), 666-675
Abstract: Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht and Botryodiplodia theobromae Pat., two important post-harvest pathogens of yam (Dioscorea rotundata L.) tubers in storage were found to produce oxalic acid (OA) in vitro and in vivo. The rate of OA accumulation was proportional to fungal growth (cell mass) in Potato Dextrose liquid medium during 10 days incubation period. Further, simultaneous co-culturing of either of the fungi with Bacillus subtilis CM1 isolated from cowdung culturable microflora resulted in 92% reduction in OA accumulation compared with that in the culture of the individual fungus. The effect was more prominent in pH 5 - 6 than in pH 7 - 8. B. subtilis CM1 was capable of detoxifying OA and several proteins were detected in the culture filtrates when it was grown in peptone-mineral salt medium containing OA. SDS-PAGE analysis of 70% ammonium sulphate fraction of the culture filtrate exhibited the presence of a predominant 97 kDa protein.
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Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
general biology - morphology - evolution
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Lasiodiplodia theobromae	Stored fruits/vegetables	India
	Lasiodiplodia theobromae	Yam (Dioscorea)	India
	Fusarium oxysporum	Stored fruits/vegetables	India
Bacillus subtilis (antagonist)