Bacillus firmus
Bacillus firmus enhances phosphorus availability in soil, stimulates root growth, improves fruit quality, and protects against soil-borne diseases. Compatible with bio-pesticides and bio-fertilizers.
Strength
1 x 10⁸ CFU per gram / 1 x 10⁹ CFU per gram
Benefits
Enhance Fruit Development and Quality
Improves the size, taste, and overall quality of fruits.
Increase Sugar Content in Fruits
Elevates the sugar levels in fruits, leading to sweeter and more nutritious produce.
Protection Against Drought and Diseases
Provides resilience against drought conditions and some soil-borne diseases, ensuring healthier plant development.
Promote Root Growth
Stimulates the development of a robust root system, enhancing nutrient uptake and plant stability.
FAQ
1. What is Bacillus firmus?
Bacillus firmus is a beneficial, spore-forming bacterium widely used in agriculture for biological nematode control and plant growth promotion. It also has potential uses in immunology and biotechnology.
2. How does B. firmus control nematodes?
It produces bioactive compounds that paralyze and kill nematodes such as Meloidogyne incognita and Radopholus similis. These compounds also reduce egg hatching and juvenile survival (Mendoza et al., 2008).
3. Can B. firmus boost plant immunity?
Yes. It induces systemic resistance in plants like tomato by activating salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathways, helping plants defend against pests and diseases (Ghahremani et al., 2020).
4. How does it promote plant growth?
B. firmus produces plant growth-promoting substances like indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and helps solubilize nutrients like phosphorus and potassium, improving nutrient uptake and plant development (Settu et al., 2023).
5. What enzymes does B. firmus produce?
It secretes nucleases that degrade DNA and RNA, and xylanases that break down plant cell walls. These enzymes assist in nutrient recycling and potential industrial applications (Kumar & Kannan, 2011), (Tseng et al., 2002).
6. Does B. firmus have medical or probiotic uses?
Yes. It stimulates the immune system, especially IgA and IgG production, and has shown adjuvant potential in mucosal immunization studies (Prokešová et al., 2008).
Scientific References
1. Nematode Biocontrol and Root Interaction
Bacillus firmus I-1582 effectively degrades nematode eggs, colonizes plant roots, and induces systemic resistance in tomato via salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathways.Ghahremani et al., 2020 – Frontiers in Plant Science
Culture filtrates of B. firmus induce paralysis and mortality in nematodes, inhibit egg hatching, and demonstrate antagonistic activity through secondary metabolites.Mendoza et al., 2008 – Biocontrol Science and Technology
A split-root study demonstrated both localized and systemic effects of B. firmus GB-126 in suppressing soybean cyst and root-knot nematodes.Schrimsher et al., 2012 – Experimental Study
2. Plant Growth Promotion and Genomic Insights
Whole-genome sequencing of strain TNAU1 revealed genes associated with indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) biosynthesis, nutrient solubilization (phosphorus and potassium), nitrate transport, nematicidal proteases, and antibiotic biosynthetic clusters.
Settu et al., 2023 – Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology
3. Enzyme Production and Biotechnological Applications
An extracellular nuclease from B. firmus VKPACU-1 displays high specificity for RNA and DNA substrates, indicating potential for biocatalytic and bioremediation applications.Kumar & Kannan, 2011 – Nucleosides, Nucleotides & Nucleic Acids
Two xylanases purified from B. firmus exhibit activity over a wide pH range and efficiently degrade xylan to xylo-oligosaccharides, supporting their use in biomass conversion.Tseng et al., 2002 – Enzyme and Microbial Technology
4. Immunomodulatory Properties
B. firmus functions as a potent polyclonal B cell activator, enhancing the production of immunoglobulins (notably IgA and IgG) in vitro, with implications for probiotic and adjuvant applications.Prokešová et al., 2008 – Folia Microbiologica
Mucosal administration of B. firmus significantly enhanced systemic and mucosal antibody responses to a model antigen in animal models, indicating its potential as a mucosal immunoadjuvant.Mlčková et al., 2001 – Immunology Letters
Mode of Action
1. Nematode Control
B. firmus produces bioactive secondary metabolites that paralyze and kill nematodes such as Meloidogyne incognita and Radopholus similis. Culture filtrates alone can reduce egg hatching and cause up to 96% mortality in nematode juveniles (Mendoza et al., 2008), (Settu et al., 2023).
It also degrades nematode eggs directly and colonizes plant roots, creating a physical and chemical barrier against nematode infection (Ghahremani et al., 2020).
2. Induction of Plant Resistance
In plants like tomato, B. firmus activates systemic resistance by upregulating salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) pathway genes, helping the plant fight off nematodes and potentially other pathogens (Ghahremani et al., 2020).
These effects can be systemic or localized, depending on the crop and context (Schrimsher et al., 2012).
3. Plant Growth Promotion
Genome analysis reveals genes responsible for:
IAA (Indole-3-acetic acid) production (a plant hormone)
Phosphorus and potassium solubilization
Nitrate transport
These contribute to enhanced nutrient uptake and overall plant growth (Settu et al., 2023).
4. Enzymatic Activity
B. firmus secretes nucleases and xylanases, which break down DNA, RNA, and complex polysaccharides—helping degrade organic matter and releasing nutrients in the soil (Kumar & Kannan, 2011), (Tseng et al., 2002).
5. Immunomodulatory Effects
In animal models, B. firmus stimulates both systemic and mucosal immune responses by increasing the production of immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG) and cytokines (e.g., IFN-γ), making it a candidate as an oral adjuvant or probiotic (Prokešová et al., 2008), (Mlčková et al., 2001).
Additional Info
Recommended Crops: Cereals, Millets, Pulses, Oilseeds, Fibre Crops, Sugar Crops, Forage Crops, Plantation crops, Vegetables, Fruits, Spices, Flowers, Medicinal crops, Aromatic Crops, Orchards, and Ornamentals.
Compatibility: Compatible with Bio Pesticides, Bio Fertilizers, and Plant growth hormones but not with chemical fertilizers and chemical pesticides.
Shelf Life: Stable within 1 year from the date of manufacturing.
Packing: We offer tailor-made packaging as per customers' requirements.
Dosage & Application
Seed Coating/Seed Treatment: 1 kg of seeds will be coated with a slurry mixture of 10 g of Bacillus firmus and 10 g of crude sugar in sufficient water. The coated seeds will then be dried in shade and sow or broadcast in the field.
Seedling Treatment: Dip the seedlings into the mixture of 100 grams of Bacillus firmus and sufficient amount of water.
Soil Treatment: Mix 3-5 kg per acre of Bacillus firmus with organic manure/organic fertilizers. Incorporate the mixture and spread into the field at the time of planting/sowing.
Irrigation: Mix 3 kg per acre of Bacillus firmus in a sufficient amount of water and run into the drip lines.
