Abstract

For the studies and preliminary screening, eighty actinomycetes isolates were selected as antagonists against Colletotrichum musae, causal agents of anthracnose of banana. Actinomycetes isolates were cultured with C. musae (dual culture) to determine their in vitro antagonistic ability. Seventeen strains that strongly inhibited hyphal growth of the pathogen were selected as potent antagonists. Green healthy fruits were treated with the test pathogen and potent antagonistic actinomycetes to determine their effective inhibition of pathogen. The selected actinobacterial isolates significantly reduced severity of anthracnose on artificially inoculated banana in storage conditions for one week incubation at about 30°C. Bioactive and potent isolates CF-1(1), Dir-10(10), Dir-10(4) and Dir-10(3) reduced the size of the lesion as compared to control. These streptomycetes isolates exhibited disease inhibition of 77 to 85% in the artificially inoculated banana fruits and maximum disease inhibition of 85.87% in banana was exhibited by the potent actinobacterial isolate Dir-10(10).

Key words: Actinomycetes, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mycelial deformation, post harvest disease, biological control, banana anthracnose, Colletotrichum musae.