Antagonistic Bacilli for Biological Control of Fusarium moniliforme

Abstract

Screening of antagonistic Bacillus spp. against Fusarium moniliforme, the causal agent of sugar cane root and stem rot, was attempted. Nine soil samples containing decomposed plant debris and grasses collected from different places were the sources of the bacteria. As the soil samples were taken during summer, the number of aerobic spore forming bacilli did not exceed 105 colony forming units per gram of the soil. However, all of the soil contained antagonistic bacilli. No fewer than 10 different bacillus isolates, with respect to their cultural characteristic, were collected as satisfactory strains for further study on biological control of Fusarium moniliforme.