In vitro and in vivo control of Penicillium digitatum and Botrytis cinerea in citrus fruit by Bacillus subtilis strains

Of 128 bacteria isolated from Citrus fruits, 108 belonged to the species Bacillus subtilis. These strains were tested in vitro and in vivo foe their effectiveness in controlling Penicillium digitatum and Botrytis cinerea. The in vitro results showe that 14 strains inhibited the growth of P.digitatum by more than 50%,with a peak of 100% registered by strain 160, and of B. cinerea by 60.6 to 86.1% strain (strain13). The in vivo findings showed that strain 160 was the only one to have a good inhibitory effect on P. digitatum (85.1%); eleven strains inhibited the growth of B. cinera by more than 70%.