Bacillus velezensis 83 increases productivity and quality of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.): Pre and postharvest assessment

Bacillus spp. are well known plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) and biological control agents (BCA) due to their capacity to synthesize a wide variety of phytostimulant and antimicrobial compounds. B. velezensis 83 is a strain marketed in Mexico as a foliar biofungicide (Fungifree AB™) which has been used for biological control of five different genera of phytopathogenic fungi (Colletotrichum, Erysiphe, Botrytis, Sphaerotheca, Leveillula) in crops of agricultural importance such as mango, avocado, papaya, citrus, tomato, strawberry, blueberry, blackberry and cucurbits, among others. In this work, the potential of plant growth promotion of B. velezensis 83 was evaluated on different phenological stages of tomato plants as well as the biocontrol efficacy of B. velezensis 83 formulations (cells and/or metabolites) against B. cinerea infection on leaves and postharvest fruits. Greenhouse grown tomato plants inoculated with a high concentration (1 × 10(8) CFU/plant) of B. velezensis 83 yielded 254 tons/Ha•year of which the 64% was first quality tomato (≥100 g/fruit), while the control plants produced less than 184 tons/Ha•year with only 55% of first quality tomato. Additionally, in vitro assays carried out with leaves and fruits, shown that the B. velezensis 83 cells formulation had an efficacy of control of B. cinerea infection of ∼31% on leaves and ∼89% on fruits, while the metabolites formulation had an efficacy of control of less than 10%. Therefore, it was concluded that spores (not the metabolites) are the main antagonism factor of Fungifree AB™. The high effectivity of B. cinerea control on fruits by B. velezensis 83, opens the possibility for a postharvest use of this biofungicide.