Control of Acidovorax citrulli by the Antagonistic Bacterium Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Pectate Lyase Inhibitory Properties of Bioactive Compounds by Molecular Docking

Işıl Temel; Mesude Figen Dönmez; Yunus Başar

doi:10.29133/yyutbd.1761260

Control of Acidovorax citrulli by the Antagonistic Bacterium Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Pectate Lyase Inhibitory Properties of Bioactive Compounds by Molecular Docking

Abstract

Pesticides that pose a risk to food safety can bioaccumulate in the human body and have many harmful effects with long-term exposure. The use of friendly microorganisms for plant health is a new approach to reducing pesticide use. Acidovorax citrulli, the causal agent of fruit blotch disease in watermelons and melons, poses a serious threat. In this study, the in vitro biocontrol of A. citrulli, which causes yield and quality losses, was investigated using bacterial strains isolated from different sources. Also, bioactive compounds produced by bacterial strains with antibacterial activity were analyzed by LC-ESI-MS/MS, and their inhibitory activity against pectate lyase was theoretically calculated using molecular docking. As a result of the isolation study to obtain potentially antagonistic bacterial strains, 189 strains were isolated and identified by fatty acid methyl ester analysis and biochemical tests. At the same time, strains with proven antibacterial activity were identified by 16S rRNA sequencing. The largest in vitro inhibition zone (37.26 mm) was observed with the strain Bacillus amyloliquefaciens IT 14. In the qualitative analysis of the bioactive compounds produced, the antibiotics Iturin A (1043.3 m/z), C-15 Iturin A (1057.5 m/z), Surfactin A (1008.3 m/z), Surfactin B (1022.3 m/z), and Surfactin C (1036.3 m/z) were determined with support from the literature. According to the molecular docking results, surfactin C (-7.6 kcal/mol) and iturin A (-7.2 kcal/mol) had the highest binding energies to the pectate lyase enzyme. The results of this study show that it may be important to determine which strain molecule with demonstrated antibacterial activity against the pathogen inhibits A. citrulli and to establish a control strategy for the disease accordingly.

Keywords

Project Number

ZIF0322D01

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Phytopathology

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Işıl Temel ^*
0000-0001-5968-3609
Türkiye

Mesude Figen Dönmez
0000-0002-7992-8252
Türkiye

Yunus Başar
0000-0002-7785-3242
Türkiye

Publication Date

April 3, 2026

Submission Date

August 9, 2025

Acceptance Date

January 22, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.29133/yyutbd.1761260

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA52GA24FN

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Temel, I., Dönmez, M. F., & Başar, Y. (2026). Control of Acidovorax citrulli by the Antagonistic Bacterium Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Pectate Lyase Inhibitory Properties of Bioactive Compounds by Molecular Docking. Yuzuncu Yıl University Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 1, 1761260. https://doi.org/10.29133/yyutbd.1761260