Biological Control of Pythium Damping –off in Seedlings with Streptomyces Sp.

Damping-off is one of the severe diseases caused by soil-borne pathogens notably Pythium sp. the causative agent of this infection in raising tree saplings in forest nurseries. Biological control is an eco-friendly approach in disease management compared to chemical fungicides which in turn affects the soil environment. Biocontrol of Pythium sp. has been emphasized in vegetable nurseries than forest nurseries. The present research work is focused on identification of effective antagonistic organism from forest nursery soils against Pythium aphanidermatum. Bacteria were isolated from various forest soils collected from Boluvampati, Sirumugai and Mettupalayam forest nurseries in Coimbatore district and soil samples were screened for antifungal activity against Pythium aphanidermatum by dual culture technique. Among 245 bacterial isolates, one isolate KUMB1.1 exhibited clear zone of inhibition of 1cm and it was identified by 16S rDNA sequencing as Streptomyces sp. Solvent extraction was performed to isolate an active compound using ethyl acetate, dichloromethane, n-butanol, hexane and chloroform in the ratio 1:1. The antifungal activity of compound was performed by well plate method against Pythium sp. and n-butanol extract exhibited zone of inhibition. The antifungal activity of Streptomyces sp. was tested in a model plant Solanum lycopersicum (Tomato) seeds raised in Pythium aphanidermatum infested soils in seed trays under in vitro conditions. Pre-emergence and post-emergence disease incidences were observed, and the results exhibited promising efficacy of Streptomyces sp. against the fungal pathogen Pythium aphanidermatum. Seedbed study was carried out in Gmelina arborea seeds, where the seeds are treated with Streptomyces culture broth. In which seed treatment shows 43% increase in germination compared with control.