Pseudomonas aeruginosa encapsulated with calcium carbonate microshells for potential biocontrol of the Ganoderma boninense

The endophytic bacterium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, was successfully encapsulated into calcium carbonate microshells and coated with sodium alginate in combination with two other materials: skim milk and empty fruit bunch (EFB). The presence of bacteria cells was confirmed by a strand-like structure, a biofilm through morphology and elemental analysis. The survivability of microencapsulated bacteria was found to last for 17 months when they were maintained in a storage condition of 4 °C. Different coating materials used exhibited significant differences in the P. aeruginosa survival during the storage time. Their bioactivity against Ganoderma boninense resulted in a percentage inhibition radial growth (PIRG) value of more than 70%, which is better than its counterparts, the free Pseudomonas cells. With promising viability results of × 106 CFU/mL after three-month storage, the results demonstrate that skim milk-coated alginate might be good protection for P. aeruginosa that could sustain the viable bacteria at the target site. This is toward a greener, biological control-based plant protection for Ganoderma diseases in the oil palm planting industry.

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