African Journal of
Microbiology Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Microbiol. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0808
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJMR
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 5238

Full Length Research Paper

Antifungal and antibacterial properties of surfactin isolated from Bacillus subtilis growing on molasses

G.A. PÅ‚aza1,2*, A. Turek1, E. Król3 and R. SzczygÅ‚owska4
1Institute for Ecology of Industrial Areas, Department of Environmental Microbiology, 40-844 Katowice, Poland. 2Silesian University of Technology, Department of Environmental and Safety Management, 41-800 Zabrze, 66, De Gaulle, Poland. 3University of Life Sciences, Department of Phytopathology and Mycology, 20-069 Lublin, Poland. 4"Strzegowa" Water Company, Research Accredited Laboratory, 63-500 Ostrzeszów, Piastowska 105, Poland.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 10 May 2013
  •  Published: 30 June 2013

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate antifungal and antibacterial properties of surfactin isolated from Bacillus subtilis growing on molasses. Molasses replaced the traditional microbiological media to culture the B. subtilis. 10 phytopathogens and 30 E. coli strains were used in the study. The results demonstrated the ability of surfactin produced byBacillus sp. growing on molasses to inhibit mycelial growth of the 4 fungi from 10 tested and all E. coli strains measured by agar plate inhibition assays. Fungi inhibited to the greatest degree as measured by the inhibition zones were Botrytis cinerea A 258 (~50% of inhibition), Sclerotinia sclerotiorum K 2291 (~50% of inhibition), Colletotrichum gloeosporioides A 259 (~40% of inhibition), Phoma complanata A 233 (~38% of inhibition),Phoma exigua var. exigua A 175 (~20% of inhibition). Among the E. coli, high inhibition growth was noted in 76% of the isolates. Application of natural products such as biosurfactant may be a new approach to biological control therefore reducing the need for synthetic chemical compounds.

 

Key words: Phytopathogens, Escherichia coliBacillus subtilis, surfactin, biocontrol, phytopathogens, biosurfactant.