Buttermilk bioformulation helps fight against cotton disease



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Researchers at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University discovered that a rhizo bacterium that could promote plant growth could be used to control the tobacco strain virus in cotton.

  The tobacco strain virus causes cotton necrosis and is a major problem for cotton producers. Credit: Getty Images
The tobacco strain virus is responsible for cotton necrosis and is a major problem for cotton producers. Credit: Getty Images

Scientists at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), based in Coimbatore, have discovered that a plant growth-stimulating rhizo bacteria, called Bacillus amyloliquefaciens ] can be used to control the tobacco fever virus (TSV) in cotton

The formulation, prepared in buttermilk, has been tested against the plant virus and has been shown to be effective. The use of buttermilk for its antimicrobial activity in humans and plants is a traditional practice. Many milk proteins are known to have demonstrated antiviral activity by inhibiting the enzyme reverse transcriptase of viruses. In the new study also, the buttermilk base alone could reduce virus concentration, but was more effective when combined with Bacillus formulations.

TSV causes cotton necrosis and is a major problem for cotton producers. The virus is transmitted to cotton plants by an insect vector, the thrips. TSV produces multiple symptoms. Farmers are generally unaware of these symptoms and end up applying indiscriminate insecticides to control the vector. Scientists were looking for a management method that respects the environment.

A few studies have reported the possibility of antiviral activity of bacteria against cotton leaves, cucumber mosaic viruses and tobacco, tobacco. Using the example, researchers collected rhizosphere and endophytic bacteria from healthy, infected cotton plants. They grew the bacteria and evaluated their antiviral efficacy. They discovered that a rhizobacterium called Bacillus amyloliquefaciens gave promising results.

Experiments were conducted in 2015 and 2016 in two different localities of Tamil Nadu to evaluate the efficacy of the Bacillus and anti-anthro-antiviral principles against TSV-infected cotton. A high-yielding hybrid, the RCH659, was selected for study

Buttermilk was used as a base for the application of bacterial inoculation. It was found that the colonizer effectively colonized the rhizosphere and the phylloplane of the cotton plant and produced antimicrobial peptides and fatty acids, which stopped the virus.

"Rhizobacteria formulations promoting the growth of plants suspended in buttermilk not only reduced the incidence of the disease, but also favored plant growth and yield. More studies are needed to make the formulation a user-friendly product. It is also necessary to test it in other cotton-producing regions of the country, "said S Vinodkumar, a member of the research team, during an interview with India Science Wire .

In addition to Dr. Vinodkumar, the team included S. Nakkeeran, P. Renukadevi, VG Malathi (Center for Plant Protection Studies); and S Mohankumar (Center for Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology) at TNAU. The results of the study were published in the journal Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment Journal . ( India Science Wire) .

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