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Inhibition of Ergosterol Biosynthesis in Fungal
Plant Pathogens by Bacillus sp.
K. Czaczyk, K. Trojanowska, B. Stachowiak*
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Department of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology, University of Agriculture,
Wojska Polskiego 48, 60-627 Poznań, Poland
* Institute of Food Technology of Plant Origin, University of Agriculture,
Wojska Polskiego 31, 60-637 Poznań, Poland
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2002;11(5):593-597
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ABSTRACT
Antifungal activity of Bacillus coagulans creates the possibility to use this microorganism in biological
control of fungal plant pathogens. Activity of Bacillus coagulans (No 6), isolated from lupine compost,
against seven pathogenic species of indicator fungi: Bipolaris sorokiniana, Trichothecium roseum, Rhizoctonia
solani, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani and Fusarium culmorum were
examined in this work. Ergosterol assessment and counting colony forming units (CFU) carried out determination
of fungal growth. The addition of Bacillus coagulans to culture of fungi resulted in inhibition of
ergosterol biosynthesis in mycelium. The strongest inhibition in all tested fungal plant pathogens was observed
when Bacillus coagulans was co-inoculated at the beginning of culture. The decrease of ergosterol
level did not always correlate with the decrease of CFU.