Single isolate and combination of chitinolytic and non-chitinolytic bacteria were assayed to know their ability in reducing chili seedling-off caused by Fusarium oxysporum. Eight antagonistic bacterial isolates i.e. Bacillus sp. BK13, Alcaligenes sp. BK14, Enterobacter sp. BK15, Citrobacter sp. BK16, and Bacillus sp. BK17 showing chitinolytic activity, and Pseudomonas sp. KM01, Alcaligenes sp. KM02, and Serratia sp. KM04 with no chitinolytic activity were assayed to inhibit F. oxysporum and Candida albicans growth in vitro. All isolates showed varied ability in inhibiting the fungal growth, in which Enterobacter sp. BK15 and Bacillus sp. BK13 inhibited the most. Inhibition assay on C. albicans indicated that non-chitinolytic bacterial isolates is likely to produce other toxic metabolic compounds. Single isolate of Enterobacter sp. BK15 and combination of Bacillus sp. BK13+Serratia sp. KM04 as well showed to reduce more chili seedling-off. All treatments produce higher seedling height and seedling dry-weight than that of isolate-free seeds planted in fungus-inoculated soil but one, Enterobacter sp. BK15+Pseudomonas sp. KM01.
Antagonistic bacteria, Candida albicans, chili seed, Fusarium oxysporum, seedling-off
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