Biocontrol of gray mold of cucumber and tomato by epihpytic bacteria in field condition

Bacterial isolates, CC178, PTC25, HC39 and KY165 originally obtained from the leaves of cucumber or tomato were selected for biocontrol agents against gray mold of cucumber and tomato by in vivo cucumber seedling assay. Each suspension of the selected epiphytic bacteria were sprayed three times at seven-day interval from early stage of cucumber in a field. Incidence of gray mold on cucumber fruits treated with isolates CC178, PTC25, HC39 and KY165 was 15.3％, 18.2％, 23.6％, and 10.4％, respectively, whereas that of control was 38.0％ after 7 days of final spray. On the other hand, treatment with the selected isolates, CC178, PTC25, HC39, and KY165 on tomato showed 2.2％, 1.3％, 2.9％, and 3.5％ in the incidence of gray mold on leaves, whereas that of control was 9.3％. All selected isolates had strong antagonistic activity against Botrytis cinerea on dual culture plate assay.