Chili Plant Growth Promoted by Bio-Encapsulated Bacillus sp. Biological Control Agents in Different Coating Materials

Bacillus sp. is a biological control agent widely used to enhance plant growth and control diseases, especially in suppressing Fusarium wilt pathogens. The effectiveness of Bacillus species in controlling diseases varies, with isolates Bcz20, Bcz14, and Bcz16 showing the highest inhibition. Fusarium sp. a fungal pathogen, isolated from infected chili plants, produces characteristic crescent-shaped spores. For bio-encapsulation, various coating materials such as sodium alginate, carrageenan, and chitosan were used. Sodium alginate proved to be the most compatible coating material, effectively maintaining the Bacillus population over time. The encapsulation efficiency was tested through a detailed process, which revealed Bacillus isolate Bcz20 as the most viable among the various coating materials, especially sodium alginate. In VIVO tests on chili plants showed that bio-encapsulation of Bacillus sp. did not show significant differences in height but showed better root development in the treatment using Bacillus Bcz20 with carrageenan. Bacillus sp. plays an important role in enhancing plant growth and promoting systemic resistance, making it a promising agent for sustainable agriculture.