Journal of Zhejiang Agricultural Sciences ›› 2026, Vol. 67 ›› Issue (5): 1275-1280.DOI: 10.16178/j.issn.0528-9017.20250839

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Effects of microbial agent on growth and biocontrol efficacy against Fusarium wilt in different small watermelon varieties

ZHANG Lina1(), MEI Yi1, ZHENG Jiaqiu1, FENG Ruchao1, LIU Zhe1, SHEN Feng1, WANG Weiwei1, WU Yongcheng1, ZU Yanxia1, YOU Chun2()   

  1. 1.Jiangsu Coastal Area Institute of Agricultural Sciences,Yancheng 224002,Jiangsu
    2.Yancheng Vegetable Research Institute,Yancheng 224002,Jiangsu
  • Received:2025-11-13 Online:2026-05-11 Published:2026-05-12
  • Contact: YOU Chun

Abstract:

Microbial agents can effectively inhibit the propagation of pathogenic microorganisms,reduce crop diseases,improve crop yield and quality. However,their effects may vary among different varieties of the same crop. Therefore,the fermentation broth of Bacillus velezensis BR11 was used as a microbial agent in this study to investigate its effects on the growth and Fusarium wilt incidence of five small watermelon varieties,namely Jingcai 1,Jingcai 4,Jingmei 1K,Jingmei 2K,and Jingmei 3K. The results showed that the microbial agent significantly (p<0.05) promoted the main vine length and stem diameter growth of small watermelons at the seedling stage,vine-growing and flowering stage,fruit setting stage,and harvesting stage,with promoting effects observed across all five watermelon varieties. After application of the microbial agent,the chlorophyll content of each small watermelon varietie was significantly increased compared with the CK. The microbial agent exhibited significant biocontrol efficacy against Fusarium wilt in the five small watermelon varieties,with disease control rates of 38.78%?61.12%,respectively. The application of microbial agent significantly increased the single fruit weight,central sugar content,marginal sugar content,and yield per 667 m2 for each small watermelon variety,with yield increase rates of 13.72%?26.15%. In conclusion,the tested microbial agent exhibits significant effects on growth promotion,disease control,yield increase,and quality improvement across small watermelon varieties.

Key words: watermelon, microbial agent, Fusarium wilt of watermelon, biological control

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