Antagonistic Effects of Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas fluorescens Against Seed- Borne Mycoflora of Pennisetum americanum

Abstract

Antagonistic activity of two bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas fluorescens against Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus terreus and Fusarium oxysporum of Pennisetum americanum was studied. In vitro studied were carried out in both dual culture technique and blotter test method. In dual culture technique the Bacillus subtilis was most antagonistic ones to the seed-borne mycoflora in vitro, while the other isolate Pseudomonas fluroescens did not show any antagonistic activity on any seed-borne mycoflora. Bacillus subtilis antagonistic isolate as well as the commercial biocide was applied as seed treatment for controlling seed-borne mycoflora under Blotter test in vitro and Pot experiment in vivo conditions. It was observed that maximum seed germination and maximum shoot and root length recorded with Aspergillus flavus and Bacillus subtilis combination in Pot experiment. Experiment shows, that Bacillus subtilis antagonistic isolate was able to significant reduction in seed-borne mycoflora than Pseudomonas fluorescens in Pennisetum americanum.

Keywords

• Seed-borne mycoflora
• biocides agents
• Bacillus subtilis
• Pseudomonas fluorescens
• Pennisetum americanum seeds