Antagonistic Potential of Soil Bacteria against Plant Pathogenic Fungi: Aspergillus niger

Aims: This study was carried out with the aim of assessing the antagonistic potentials of soil bacteria against the plant pathogenic fungi Aspergillus niger.

Study Design: The complete Randomized Design was the experimental design for this study.

Place and duration of study: This study took place in University of Calabar, Cross River State Nigeria within the pace of one month.

Methodology: Standard microbiological methods were used to identify bacteria and obtain pure culture of fungi

Result: Bacterial isolates were evaluated for their potential of antagonism against Aspergillus niger isolated from spoilt tomatoes. The percentage inhibition of mycelia growth by these isolates recorded values as 27%, 0%, 66%, 40%, 97%, 0% and 23% respectively. The isolates were analyzed and identified as Bacillus spp, Enterobacter spp., Pseudomonas spp., Proteus spp., Escherichia coli, Streptococcus spp. and Staphylococcus spp respectively.

Conclusion: In the present work high levels of in vitro control of A. niger have been verified by E. coliisolates. However, in future investigations molecular studies should be carried out confirming that the isolates obtained from E. coli are not pathogenic to humans.