Curvularia lunata (Wakker) Boedijn is a phytopathogen that causes leaf spot disease
in maize (Zea mays L.), a cereal crop of great economic importance. However, the use
of biocontrol agents such as Bacillus species offers an effective and sustainable
alternative to reduce the severity of leaf spot disease. Therefore, our study sought
to evaluate the applicability of Bacillus licheniformis M2-7 as a potential biocontrol
agent against Curvularia lunata in maize landrace plants both in vitro and in vivo.
The in vitro experiments demonstrated that strain M2-7 inhibited mycelial growth and
conidial germination by 73.75 and 78.66%, respectively. In the in vivo tests, 1 ×
103 and 1 × 106 CFU concentrations of strain M2-7 significantly reduced disease severity
compared to the control. Our findings suggested that Bacillus licheniformis M2-7 could
be used on a commercial scale as an effective biocontrol agent against leaf spot disease
in maize.
