Cowpea Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. tracheiphilum occurs in almost all cowpea growing areas, and the yield loss can be as high as 70% in major domestic producing areas such as Hainan. Currently, chemical control measures are the primary management strategy in China. The use of microbial biocontrol agents can reduce the application of agrochemicals and mitigate the risks of pesticide residues, and has been widely adopted for the management of soil-borne diseases. However, there is limited research on the use of multi-functional microbial consortia for the biocontrol of Fusarium wilt in cowpea. In this study, we screened highly efficient phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) using the molybdenum-antimony colorimetric method, and evaluated the synergistic effects of the selected PSB strain and the antagonistic Bacillus velezensis strain on cowpea growth and Fusarium wilt control. From 10 phosphate-solubilizing bacterial isolates, we identified B. cereus LMSY3PSB-2-2 (abbreviated as P) as a highly efficient PSB strain. The optimal ratio of the PSB strain P to the biocontrol strain B. velezensis X5 was determined to be 2∶1. Compared to the individual application of the PSB strain P or the biocontrol strain X5, the composite inoculum at this ratio significantly enhanced cowpea seed germination, plant growth, and root vigor. Under pot experiments, the composite inoculum achieved a 96% disease control effect against Fusarium wilt and increased the available soil phosphorus content by 19%. The results would provide a theoretical guide for utilizing the PSB strain P and the antagonistic strain X5 in a microbial consortium to promote cowpea growth and control Fusarium wilt, laying a foundation for the development of multi-functional composite microbial products to support sustainable agriculture.
| 科 Family | 属数 Number of genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) | 属 Genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae | 2 | 11 | 5.26 | 鹅膏菌属 Amanita | 10 | 4.78 |
| 小菇科 Mycenaceae | 2 | 12 | 5.74 | 丝盖伞属 Inocybe | 5 | 2.39 |
| 多孔菌科 Polyporaceae | 8 | 14 | 6.70 | 蜡蘑属 Laccaria | 5 | 2.39 |
| 红菇科 Russulaceae | 3 | 23 | 11.00 | 小皮伞属 Marasmius | 6 | 2.87 |
| 小菇属 Mycena | 11 | 5.26 | ||||
| 光柄菇属 Pluteus | 5 | 2.39 | ||||
| 红菇属 Russula | 17 | 8.13 | ||||
| 栓菌属 Trametes | 5 | 2.39 |