Control Efficacy of Serratia plymuthica KRS006 on Cotton Verticillium Wilt

doi:10.16409/j.cnki.2095-039x.2026.02.042

Abstract

Abstract: Cotton Verticillium wilt is a soil-borne vascular disease caused by the fungus Verticillium dahliae. In this study, a bacterial strain designated KRS006, exhibiting significant antagonistic activity against this pathogen, was isolated from the rhizosphere soil of healthy cotton plants. To determine its taxonomic status and assess its potential for biological control, the strain was identified as Serratia plymuthica through polyphasic characterization, including morphological traits, physiological and biochemical assays, as well as 16S rRNA and gyrB gene sequence analyses. The strain demonstrated broad-spectrum antifungal activity against seven plant pathogenic fungi. Moreover, it possessed multiple plant-growth-promoting traits, such as phosphate and potassium solubilization, nitrogen fixation, siderophore production, and the ability to secrete protease, lipase, and chitinase. In greenhouse experiments, KRS006 achieved a control efficacy of 92.3% against cotton Verticillium wilt and significantly promoted cotton plant growth. To gain insights into the antagonistic mechanism, scanning and transmission electron microscopy were employed to observe the ultrastructural interactions between KRS006 and V. dahliae. The microscopic analyses clearly revealed that strain KRS006 caused severe disruption and disintegration of the hyphal cell membrane structure of the pathogen, suggesting a direct detrimental effect on cellular integrity. Furthermore, the volatile organic compounds(VOCs) produced by strain KRS006 were identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry(GC-MS) as dimethyl disulfide, 1-chloropentane, and dimethyl trisulfide. In vitro bioassays confirmed that all three purified volatile compounds exerted a pronounced inhibitory effect on mycelial growth of V. dahliae, with dimethyl trisulfide showing the strongest activity, indicating that these volatiles contribute substantially to the antifungal action. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that S. plymuthica KRS006 possesses potent biocontrol efficacy against cotton Verticillium wilt through multiple mechanisms, including direct mycoparasitism via lytic enzymes, membrane disruption, and volatile-mediated inhibition, in addition to its plant-growth-promoting properties. Therefore, strain KRS006 represents a promising microbial resource for the sustainable and environmentally friendly management of cotton Verticillium wilt in agricultural systems.

Key words: cotton Verticillium wilt, Verticillium dahliae, Serratia plymuthica, biological control, growth promoting effect

CLC Number:

S432

LIU Xinxin, TANG Mengyu, ZHANG Dandan, CHEN Jieyin, JIANG Ming, WANG Dan. Control Efficacy of Serratia plymuthica KRS006 on Cotton Verticillium Wilt[J]. Chinese Journal of Biological Control, 2026, 42(4): 945-957.

/ Recommend

References

[1] Zhang T, Hu Y, Jiang W. et al. Sequencing of allotetraploid cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L. acc. TM-1)provides a resource for fiber improvement[J]. Nature Biotechnology, 2015, 33(5):531-537.
[2] Fradin E F, Thomma B P. Evolution, population structure, and plant-microbe interactions of the genus Verticillium[J]. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, 2006, 19(8):792-805.
[3] Pegg G F, Brady B L. Verticillium wilts[M]. Springer Science & Business Media, 2002.
[4] Fradin E F and Thomma B P. Physiology and molecular aspects of Verticillium wilt diseases caused by V. dahliae and V. albo-atrum[J]. Molecular Plant Pathology, 2006, 7(2):71-86.
[5] Klosterman S J, Atallah Z K, Vallad G E, et al. Diversity, pathogenicity, and management of Verticillium species[J]. Annual Review of Phytopathology,2009, 47:39-62.
[6] Daayf F. Verticillium wilts in crop plants:Pathogen invasion and host defence responses[J]. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology, 2015, 37:8-20.
[7] Zhu Y T, Zhao M, Li T T, et al. Interactions between Verticillium dahliae and cotton:pathogenic mechanism and cotton resistance mechanism to Verticillium wilt[J]. Frontiers in Plant Science, 2023, 14:1174281.
[8] Bhat R G, Subbarao K V. Effect of cropping systems on Verticillium dahliae microsclerotia in soil and Verticillium wilt of lettuce[J]. Phytopathology, 1999,89(9):823-829.
[9] 纪晓彬,王丹,刘政,等.芽胞杆菌BvR001对大丽轮枝菌抑制效果研究[J]. 植物保护, 2021, 47(1):40-47.
[10] Zhang H, Liu Y, Tian X, et al. Chemical control of Verticillium wilt of cotton:A review[J]. Crop Protection, 2019, 121:1-11.
[11] Zhou Y, Tian X, Zhang H, et al. Pesticide residues in cotton fields and their impact on the environment and human health:A review[J]. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2020, 27(33):41544-41558.
[12] Compant S, Duffy B, Nowak J, et al. Use of plant growth-promoting bacteria for biocontrol of plant diseases:Principles, mechanisms of action, and future prospects[J]. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 2005, 71(9):4951-4959.
[13] Lugtenberg B, Kamilova F. Plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria[J]. Annual Review of Microbiology, 2009, 63:541-556.
[14] 刘延财,唐叶,吴家和,等.生防微生物在棉花黄萎病防治中的研究进展[J]. 微生物学报, 2025, 65(3):994-1006.
[15] 许沛冬,易剑锋,陈迪,等.贝莱斯芽孢杆菌生防次级代谢产物研究进展[J]. 生物技术通报, 2024, 40(3):75-88.
[16] Li P, Wei F, Feng H, et al. Talaromyces purpureogenus CEF642 as a promising biocontrol agent for cotton disease control[J]. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2025, 73(5):2760-2772.
[17] 穆文强,康慎敏,李平兰.根际促生菌对植物的生长促进作用及机制研究进展[J]. 生命科学, 2022, 34(2):118-127.
[18] 陈佳伟,林艳,张明星,等.贝莱斯芽孢杆菌YCH92对棉花根际土壤微生物群落及棉花产量的影响[J]. 作物学报, 2025, 51(10):2821-2835.
[19] 刘璐,万伟杰,郑通文,等.根际细菌吡咯伯克霍尔德氏菌YZU-S377对棉花黄萎病的防效及其促生作用研究[J]. 河南农业科学, 2021, 50(3):91-96.
[20] 蒋宝贵,赵斌.解磷解钾自生固氮菌的分离筛选及鉴定[J]. 华中农业大学学报, 2005, 24(1):43-48.
[21] 王明元,徐志周,刘建福,等.伯克霍尔德菌HQB-1抑制香蕉枯萎病菌的活性化合物分离鉴定[J]. 微生物学通报, 2021, 48(6):1965-1975.
[22] Wang D, Luo W, Zhang D, et al. Insights into the biocontrol function of a Burkholderia gladioli strain against Botrytis cinerea[J]. Microbiology Spectrum,2023, 11(2):e04805-22.
[23] 刘思远,申东晨,刘峥,等.产低温脂肪酶菌株鉴定、发酵条件优化及酶学性质分析[J]. 食品工业科技, 2023, 44(20):116-125.
[24] 唐白露,刘佳,王荣华,等.环洞庭湖四个淡水湖渔场底泥产几丁质酶细菌的筛选鉴定、分布和产酶量研究[J]. 微生物学杂志, 2023, 43(2):58-67.
[25] 王晓丹,闵凡祥,郭梅,等.马铃薯青枯病菌生化型研究及菌株接种方法的比较[J]. 中国马铃薯, 2010, 24(1):38-40.
[26] Li B J, Li H L, Shi Y X, et al. First report of Pseudomonas cichorii causing leaf spot of vegetable sponge gourd in China[J]. Plant Disease, 2014, 98(1):153.
[27] Zhang L, Ni H, Du X, et al. The Verticillium-specific protein VdSCP7 localizes to the plant nucleus and modulates immunity to fungal infections[J]. New Phytologist, 2017, 215(1):368-381.
[28] 东秀珠,蔡妙英.常见细菌系统鉴定手册[M]. 北京:科学出版社, 2001.
[29] Buchanan R E, Gibbons N E.伯杰细菌鉴定手册[Z]. 北京:科学出版社, 1984.
[30] Wang M, Wang Q, Zhang B. Evaluation and selection of reliable reference genes for gene expression under abiotic stress in cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.). Gene, 2013, 530(1):44-50.
[31] Zhao F, Wang D, Liu H, et al. The biocontrol strain Bacillus mojavensis KRS009 confers resistance to cotton Verticillium wilt and improves tolerance to salt stress[J]. New Plant Protection, 2024, 1(2):e20.
[32] 瓦热斯·为力,艾克拜尔·伊拉洪,阿不都赛买提·乃合买提,等.生物复合药肥对棉叶螨及棉花生长发育的影响[J]. 新疆农业科学, 2019, 56(9):1701-1709.
[33] 李雪瑶.枯草芽孢杆菌KRS034挥发物对葡萄采后的防腐保鲜作用及其机制初探[D]. 保定:河北农业大学, 2023.
[34] 陈忠男,王志刚,徐伟慧.生防菌在农业中的应用及其机制研究进展[J]. 高师理科学刊, 2022, 42(6):89-94.
[35] 马小花,展学孔,黄卫红,等.新型缓释香囊芳香水中挥发性成分的GC-MS分析及抑菌性研究[J]. 中国民族民间医药, 2025, 34(18):51-56.
[36] Campos D, Cottet L, Santos C, et al. Antifungal activity of Serratia plymuthica against the phytopathogenic fungus Alternariate nuissima[J]. Microbial Pathogenesis, 2024, 193:106750.
[37] Sun M, Liu J, Li J, et al. Endophytic bacterium Serratia plymuthica from Chinese leek suppressed apple ring rot on postharvest apple fruit[J]. Frontiers in microbiology, 2022, 12:802887.
[38] Kurze S, Bahl H, Dahl R, et al. Biological control of fungal strawberry diseases by Serratia plymuthica HRO-C48[J]. Plant disease, 2001, 85(5):529-534.
[39] 郑雪玲,杨迪,孙静怡,等.胡萝卜细菌性心腐病的病原菌鉴定[C]. 中国植物病理学会, 2019, 366.
[40] Dupont C A, Jordier N, Bizière-Maco H, et al. Volatile compounds as bacterial communication signals:State of art, limitations and future perspectives[J]. Microbiological Research, 2026, 307:128478.
[41] Yang M, Lu H, Xiao N, et al. Fumigation with dimethyl trisulfide to inhibit Aspergillus flavus growth, aflatoxin B1 production and virulence[J]. FEMS Microbiology letters, 2024, 371:fnae102.
[42] Qu H, Dai L, Guo Z, et al. Antifungal activity of dimethyl trisulfide and potential biocontrol against Alternaria alternataon postharvest Lycium barbarum[J]. European Journal of Plant Pathology, 2025, 171(4):645-660.
[43] 王秋霞,颜冬冬,方文生,等.新型土壤熏蒸剂二甲基二硫研究进展[J]. 植物保护学报, 2023, 50(1):32-39.
[44] Rybakova D, Wikström M, Birch-Jensen F, et al. Verticillium wilt in oilseed rape-the microbiome is crucial for disease outbreaks as well as for efficient suppression[J]. Plants(Basel, Switzerland), 2020, 9(7):866.
[45] 马金秀,张锦锋,王江来,等.普城沙雷氏菌MM产酶条件优化及对西瓜枯萎病的防治效果[J]. 西北农业学报, 2022, 31(12):1635-1645.