Dual-action bacterial consortium: antagonistic effects against Fusarium oxysporum and growth promotion in tomato crops

Abstract: Chemical control has been the primary method for managing crop pests and diseases, but its negative impact on agroecosystem biodiversity has led to a shift towards biological control. The use of soil bacteria secondary metabolites has emerged as a promising alternative to counteract phytopathogenic microorganisms. This study evaluated the antagonistic effectiveness of a consortia comprising Pseudomonas mediterranea and Pantoea ananatis against Fusarium oxysporum, demonstrating up to 86 % inhibition in vitro. Additionally, the consortia‘s growthpromoting capacity was assessed in tomato crops, revealing significant improvements during flowering and fruiting stages. This research contributes to the growing body of evidence supporting the use of bacterial consortia as an efficient and environmentally friendly approach to crop management, offering potential benefits in both disease control and plant growth promotion.