Abstract Garlic ( Allium sativum) , a vegetable crop used for food, medicine, and condiments, is affected by white rot ( Sclerotium cepivorum ). Garlic yield reduction is influenced by several factors, with biotic stresses, particularly fungal pathogens, being among the most significant. The main aim of this work was to examine the effect of bacterial antagonists in preventing or controlling the attack of white rot. Bacterial antagonists and the phytopathogens were isolated and characterized using the serial dilution technique and standard microbiological procedures. The biocontrol properties of bacterial isolates, including fungal inhibition, production of hydrolytic enzymes, and bioactive compounds, were determined. Similarly, the in vivo inhibition potential of 10 selected antagonists was evaluated under greenhouse conditions. Eleven isolates, accounting for 47.8%, inhibited the radial growth of white rot at disease incidences of 1%–4% and 33.3%, respectively. Among the bacterial isolates, 10 (90.9%) showed cellulase activity, while 6 (54.6%) and 5 (45.5%) were positive for chitinase and protease production, respectively. Furthermore, 11 (100%) and 5 (45.5%) of the isolates were positive for ammonia and hydrogen cyanide production, respectively. Garlic plants treated with bacteria produced 135.0%–142.2%, and 291.7%–370.8% greater height and weight, respectively. The isolates exhibited 99% sequence homology with Pantoea species, including Pantoea agglomerans , as well as Enterobacter species, Enterococcus species, and E. gallinarum . The budget was one limitation to further evaluating the effect of bacterial antagonists against white rot affecting garlic under field conditions. This finding indicated that the application of potential microbial inoculants can control plant disease. Consequently, isolates WUGRB‐14 and ‐92 (where WUGRB is Wollo University Grasspea Rhizobacteria) can be recommended for field application as an alternative to chemical pesticides.
Adal et al. (Fri,) studied this question.