Abstract
Nine isolates of soil bacteria were tested in vitro. Parameters assessed were HCN
production, volatile compound production, production of non-volatile diffusible metabolite,
protease enzyme production, antagonistic effect on phytopathogen. HCN production was
tested qualitatively by picric acid and ammonium carbonate reagent and antagonistic
activity is tested against stem rot causing pathogen sclerotium A. niger and A. flavus by dual
culture technique. None of the culture showed HCN production and volatile compound
production activity. Six cultures isolates NM/S3/NA, NM/S4/NA, NM/S6/NA, NM/S7/NA,
NM/R2/RA NM/R3/RA showed protease production All cultures showed production of the
non-volatile diffusible metabolite having inhibiting effect on phytopathogen A. niger
whereas none of the bacterial isolates showed production of the non-volatile diffusible
metabolite having inhibiting effect on phytopathogen A. flavus and Sclerotium. After three
days of inoculation. The effect diluted after third day. Maximum inhibition showed by
NM/S3/NA and minimum inhibition showed by NM/S1/CA and NM/S8/CA. Antagonistic
activity is shown by culture NM/R3/RA against phytopathogen A. niger whilecultures
NM/S4/NA, NM/S5/NA, NM/R2/RA showed minimum antagonistic activity as they are
touching to the culture against phytopathogen A. flavus. None of the culture showed
antagonistic activity against Sclerotium.
