Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerium, a resilient saprophytic fungus, poses a significant risk to cucumber crops. The research investigated the suppressive impact of Bacillus velezensis dhm2 on this pathogen and the synergistic performance of its crude lipopeptide extract with synthetic fungicides. Strain dhm2 inhibited the pathogen by 52.27% in confrontation culture. Its fermentation supernatant showed peak activity at 4 h bacterial age and 60 h fermentation duration, while the crude lipopeptide extract had an EC₅₀ of 9.99 g L⁻¹. Among the six chemical fungicides, prochloraz exhibited the highest toxicity, with an EC₅₀ value of 0.03 μg mL⁻¹. In all mixed combinations of the crude lipopeptide extract and chemical fungicides, there existed synergistic mixing ratios, particularly with difenoconazole (volume ratio 7:3, synergistic ratio 5.88) and propiconazole (7:3, 3.41), as confirmed by Wadley tests. Pot experiments revealed that the combined use of the crude lipopeptide extract and difenoconazole controlled cucumber Fusarium wilt by 80.95%. The mixture showed the highest SOD (315.76 U g⁻¹ FW min⁻¹), POD (281.63 U g⁻¹ FW min⁻¹), and CAT (23.39 U g⁻¹ FW min⁻¹), with increases over single treatments. This study provides an eco-friendly strategy for managing cucumber wilt, advocating reduced fungicide use via synergistic formulations.

This study aimed to address stalk rot in sweet waxy corn while simultaneously decreasing the chemical fertilizer usage without affecting the crop yield. The investigators implemented an innovative approach that integrated disease management with environmentally sustainable agricultural practices by developing an enhanced microbial vetch fertilizer (MVF). This novel fertilizer was produced through the fermentation of vetch (Vicia villosa var. glabrescens) straw utilizing beneficial strains of Trichoderma and Bacillus species. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the antifungal microbial strains effectively inhibited Fusarium graminearum growth by 46.9% to 64.0%. Subsequent pot trials revealed that MVF application significantly reduced the incidence of stalk rot, resulting in a disease index of 21.2, which was equivalent to control efficacy of 60.2%. Field experiments further demonstrated that applying MVF at 5250 kg·ha⁻¹ produced optimal ear and grain weights, with the peak grain yield reaching 11,259.7 kg·ha⁻¹ when combined with 90% of the standard chemical fertilizer regime. This study contributes to the advancement of environmentally sustainable agricultural practices by effectively managing corn stalk rot and improving productivity by using eco-friendly techniques. The MVF shows potential as a biological alternative to boost sweet corn yields and enhance the protective enzyme activity. This study advances the field of sustainable agriculture by introducing eco-friendly techniques that effectively combat corn stalk rot and enhance crop yields.