Evidence of Induced Systemic Resistance Against Botrytis elliptica in Lily

ABSTRACT Lily leaf blight, caused by Botrytis elliptica, is an important fungal disease in Taiwan. In order to identify an effective, nonfungicide method to decrease disease incidence in Lilium formosanum, the efficacy of rhizobacteria eliciting induced systemic resistance (ISR) was examined in this study. Over 300 rhizobacteria were isolated from the rhizosphere of L. formosanum healthy plants and 63 were identified by the analysis of fatty acid profiles. Disease suppressive ability of 13 strains was demonstrated by soil drench application of bacterial suspensions to the rhizosphere of L. formosanum seedlings. Biocontrol experiments were carried out with Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas putida strains on L. formosanum and Lilium Oriental hybrid cvs. Acapulco and Star Gazer in greenhouse and field studies. Plants treated with B. cereus strain C1L showed that protection against B. elliptica on L. formosanum could last for at least 10 days and was consistent with high populations of B. cereus on lily roots. ...