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Article

In Vivo Screening of Rhizobacteria Against Phytophthora capsici and Bacillus subtilis Induced Defense Gene Expression in Chili Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

by
José Luis Ávila-Oviedo
†,
Carlos Méndez-Inocencio
†,
María Dolores Rodríguez-Torres
,
María Valentina Angoa-Pérez
,
Erika Karina Martínez-Mendoza
and
Edgar Villar-Luna
*
Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación para el Desarrollo Integral Regional (CIIDIR), Unidad Michoacán, Departamento de Investigación, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Justo Sierra 28, Jiquilpan 59510, Michoacán, Mexico
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Horticulturae 2026, 12(1), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12010059
Submission received: 27 November 2025 / Revised: 29 December 2025 / Accepted: 30 December 2025 / Published: 3 January 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant–Microbial Interactions: Mechanisms and Impacts)
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Abstract

Phytophthora capsici (Pc) affects the production of Capsicum annuum L., particularly in susceptible genotypes like ‘California Wonder’ (CW). Beneficial bacteria offer a sustainable strategy for enhancing plant defense. Five bacterial strains, Bacillus subtilis (BMBA), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (BMBC), Bacillus sp. (BMBH), Pseudomonas putida (BMBI), and Paenibacillus sp. (BMBP), were tested against P. capsici in chili pepper. By 11 days post-inoculation (dpi), BMBH, BMBC, BMBI and BMBP showed a trend toward accelerated symptom development, reaching severity scores of 4–5, compared with control (3.66 ± 0.55), whereas BMBA delayed disease progression (2.5 ± 0.71). At 14 dpi, control plants reached maximum severity (6.0 ± 0.0), whereas BMBA-treated plants maintained lower severity (5.0 ± 0.44). Mortality was 100% in the control, compared with 33.3% in the BMBA+Pc treatment, indicating a partial and transient protective effect. Gene expression analysis in CW roots revealed strong upregulation of PR-1, PR-5, and EAS by P. capsici. In BMBA plants, PR-1 decreased at 24 h post-inoculation (hpi), whereas EAS initially declined at 8 hpi but increase 18.5% at 24 hpi. These results indicate modulation of defense-related gene expression and reduced mortality, supporting the potential of BMBA as a partial biocontrol agent against P. capsici in chili peppers.
Keywords: Capsicum annuum; Phytophthora capsici; Bacillus subtilis; induced systemic resistance Capsicum annuum; Phytophthora capsici; Bacillus subtilis; induced systemic resistance
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MDPI and ACS Style

Ávila-Oviedo, J.L.; Méndez-Inocencio, C.; Rodríguez-Torres, M.D.; Angoa-Pérez, M.V.; Martínez-Mendoza, E.K.; Villar-Luna, E. In Vivo Screening of Rhizobacteria Against Phytophthora capsici and Bacillus subtilis Induced Defense Gene Expression in Chili Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). Horticulturae 2026, 12, 59. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12010059

AMA Style

Ávila-Oviedo JL, Méndez-Inocencio C, Rodríguez-Torres MD, Angoa-Pérez MV, Martínez-Mendoza EK, Villar-Luna E. In Vivo Screening of Rhizobacteria Against Phytophthora capsici and Bacillus subtilis Induced Defense Gene Expression in Chili Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). Horticulturae. 2026; 12(1):59. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12010059

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ávila-Oviedo, José Luis, Carlos Méndez-Inocencio, María Dolores Rodríguez-Torres, María Valentina Angoa-Pérez, Erika Karina Martínez-Mendoza, and Edgar Villar-Luna. 2026. "In Vivo Screening of Rhizobacteria Against Phytophthora capsici and Bacillus subtilis Induced Defense Gene Expression in Chili Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)" Horticulturae 12, no. 1: 59. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12010059

APA Style

Ávila-Oviedo, J. L., Méndez-Inocencio, C., Rodríguez-Torres, M. D., Angoa-Pérez, M. V., Martínez-Mendoza, E. K., & Villar-Luna, E. (2026). In Vivo Screening of Rhizobacteria Against Phytophthora capsici and Bacillus subtilis Induced Defense Gene Expression in Chili Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). Horticulturae, 12(1), 59. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12010059

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