Systemic Induced Resistance to the Root-Knot Nematode Cause By Bacillus Spp

Systemic induced resistance refers to the activation of the two major plant defense pathways. Both pathways, the jasmonic acid and salicylic acid pathways, can be induced by pathogens as well as non-pathogenic bacteria and fungi. The induction of the jasmonic acid pathway by non-pathogenic bacteria species has been used as a measure of biocontrol against a variety of diseases. Many commercial biocontrol agents advertise to work by systemic induced resistance. Two commercially available Bacillus products, Serenade and VOTiVO, one other strain, Bacillus pumilus GB34, and one chemical, Fluopyram, were analyzed to determine each one’s mechanism of action against the root knot nematode, M. incognita, by an in vitro assay and a split root assay.