Abstract
Rhizobacteria are important component of soil-plant interfaces and help in the management of plant diseases by various means. Precisely, the role of biosurfactant is underscored in biocontrol. The current study showed the exploration of biosurfactant-producing bacteria and its effect in indirect reduction of disease severity in pulse crops. In this study, BS14 was screened as plant growth promoting, biosurfactant producing and biocontrol agent against Macrophomina phaseolina. The biosurfactant purified for biocontrol assays and shown inhibition of fungal hyphal growth in dual culture method and cellular-level deformities in mycelia of M. phaseolina, as observed under scanning electron microscopic (SEM). The biosurfactant of Bacillus BS14 was identified as cyclic siloxane in GC-MS-spectroscopy and FTIR-spectroscopy analysis. In pot-trial studies Bacillus sp. BS14 proved their efficiency for the growth-promotion of Vigna mungo and significant reduction in disease severity index. Using biosurfactants is a biological alternative to the control of plant diseases.