A preventive application of the bacteria (5 105 or 5 106 cells) was more effective than co-application, allowing a significant reduction in lesions of A. solani and improving efficacy of low bacterial concentrations in reducing B. cinerea lesions.
A combined B. linens/B. subtilis treatment was generally more inhibitory than either bacterium alone indicating possible synergistic effects. Antifungal compounds, including surfactins, were found in the bacterial extracts indicating that antibiosis is a main mechanism of action.