Biotechnology Bulletin ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (4): 332-344.doi: 10.13560/j.cnki.biotech.bull.1985.2025-0996

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Fermentation Optimization of a Surfactin-producing Bacillus Strain and Its Application in Prevention and Control

SU Chang(), WEN Feng, WANG Ye-lin, SHAO Rui-ying, TANG Jia-jie, XIA Zhan-feng()   

  1. College of Life Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Biological Resources Conservation and Utilization in Tarim Basin, Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Tarim University, Alar 843300
  • Received:2025-09-17 Online:2026-02-09 Published:2026-02-09
  • Contact: XIA Zhan-feng E-mail:1094615208@qq.com;fenge3721@163.com

Abstract:

Objective This study aimed to optimize the fermentation conditions and evaluate the insecticidal activity of a surfactin-producing strain, Bacillus australimaris TRM82479, isolated from desert soil. Method Key influencing factors were screened using the Plackett-Burman design, followed by optimization of fermentation conditions via the Box-Behnken response surface methodology. The effects of various nutrients (including carbon and nitrogen sources), cultivation time, temperature, shaking speed, initial pH, inoculation volume, and medium volume on surfactin production were determined using the oil displacement method and HPLC-MS. The insecticidal spectrum of the bacterial suspension was determined using the feed poisoning method and leaf dipping method; and the field control effects of the bacterial suspension at different concentrations were evaluated via the five-point sampling method. Result The optimal liquid medium composition and fermentation parameters for surfactin production were as follows: Maltose 8.912 g/L, yeast extract powder 7.135 g/L, sodium chloride 7 g/L, magnesium sulfate 0.2 g/L, fermentation temperature 28 ℃, fermentation time 75 h, shaking speed 160 r/min, medium volume 150 mL, and vaccination rate of 4%.Under these optimized conditions, surfactin yield increased approximately 1.88-fold, reaching a concentration of about 1 355.78 mg/L. The bacterial culture had insecticidal activity against seven agricultural pests, demonstrating a broad insecticidal spectrum. The highest mortality was observed against aphids, with a corrected mortality rate of 91.23% at 48 h. In field trials, the supernatants at concentrations of 10⁸, 10⁷, and 10⁶ CFU/mL provided control efficacies against aphids of 77.33%, 70.48%, and 66.26%, respectively, after seven days, all of which were higher than the 56.95% efficacy achieved by the chemical pesticide flonicamid (25%). Conclusion After optimizing the fermentation process of strain TRM82479, the yield reaches 1 355.78 mg/L, it exerts a good control effect on multiple agricultural pests, and its field control effect against aphids after 7 d is as high as 77.33%. This is significantly higher than that of the chemical pesticide 25% flonicamid, indicating great potential for development as a microbial insecticide.

Key words: Bacillus australimaris, surfactin, oil displacement assay, response surface methodology, broad-spectrum insecticide