IN VITRO EVALUATION OF THE BIOCONTROL POTENTIAL OF BACILLUS SUBTILIS AGAINST CHESTNUT BLIGHT FUNGUS (CRYPHONECTRIA PARASITICA)

Abstract

The research is about the isolation of the Chestnut Blight fungal pathogen, Cryphonectria parasitica, and assess How its control by the Bacillus subtilis bacterium under in-vitro conditions. Fungus was isolated from infected bark samples, while Bacterium was purchased as a commercial preparation. In-vitro dual culture technique was conducted mainly to assess the percentage inhibition of mycelial growth of the fungus. Other tests, such as assessing the capability of synthesising volatile organic compounds, and hydrolysing enzymes, such as chitinase production by the bacterium, were conducted. It was found that, there is a clear inhibitory effect of the bacterium against this fungus under in-vitro conditions.