Effects of biocontrol agents on Fusarium verticillioides count and fumonisin content in the maize agroecosystem: Impact on rhizospheric bacterial and fungal groups

The present study tested the ability of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Microbacterium oleovorans to reduce Fusarium verticillioides populations and fumonisin accumulation in the maize agroecosystem. The impact of releasing these biocontrol agents on rhizospheric bacterial and fungal groups was also evaluated through isolation and identification of culturable microorganisms. When applied as seed coatings at a concentration of 107 CFU ml−1 both agents were effective in reducing F. verticillioides counts and fumonisin B1 and B2 content from maize grains. Rhizospheric counts of the pathogen were also decreased by use of B. amyloliquefaciens at 107 CFU ml−1. Richness and diversity indexes calculated for bacteria and fungi inhabiting the rhizosphere of maize remained unchanged following the addition of both biocontrol agents to seeds. Our research is being continued to further characterize the bacterial and fungal isolates with additional field assays.