ISSN: 0973-7510
E-ISSN: 2581-690X
Bacillus strains offer several advantages over other bacteria for protection against plant pathogens because of their ability to form endospore and to produce broad spectrum antibiotics. The aim of this work was to study the interaction of Bacillus subtilis with rice pathogen, Fusarium. Eleven aerobic endospore forming bacilli were isolated from Bhitarkanika mangrove sediment, Odisha, India. Among them one strain was found to be antagonistic to the tested rice pathogens. The isolated bacterium was Gram-positive rod having sub-terminal endospore. The analysis of partial sequences containing 700 to 900 bases of the 16S ribosomal DNA gene showed 99% identity with B. subtilis. Strong inhibitory activity against Fusarium spp. was found on co-cultures with B. subtilis strain, particularly on Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) and Potato dextrose agar (PDA). Their interaction resulted in the secretion of red and red-ochre color pigments, probably due to melanization after seven days of co-culturing.
Antibiosis, Bacillus subtilis, Fusarium spp., mangrove, Red-ochre pigments
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