Identification of an antagonistic bacteria and its antibiotic substance against Colletotrichm orbiculare causing anthracnose on cucumber

A bacterial strain YC4963 with antifungal activity against Colletotrichum orbiculare, a causal organism of cucumber anthracnose was isolated from the rhizosphere soil of Siegesbeckia pubescens (Siegesbeckia pubescens Makino；Family：Compositae) in Korea. Based on physiological and biochemical characteristics and 16S ribosomal DNA sequence analysis, the bacterial strain was identified as Pseudomonu aureofaciens. The bacteria also inhibited mycelial growth of several plant fungal pathogens such as Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum and Rhizoctonia solani on PDA and 0.1 TSA media. The antibiotic activity was found from the culture filtrate of TSB(tryptic soy broth) and its active compounds were quantitatively bound to XAD adsorber resin. The antibiotic spectrum was broad and growth of C. orbiculare and F. oxysporum, B. cinerea were inhibited at very low concentration. The chemical data from various chromatographic procedures showed that active fraction consisted of at least two phenazine derivatives. However, the metabolites had no inhibitory effect on Pythium ultimum which was reported to be sensitive to phenazine antibiotics. The compounds responsible for the activity are now under investigation.