Potential of Bacillus isolates as bio-control agents against some fungal phytopathogens

Thirty bacilli were isolated from soil and rhizosphere collected from Egypt and Saudi Arabia. About 20–30% of tested bacilli were found to be antagonized plant pathogenic fungi (15–98% fungal inhibition).Treatment with Bacillus isolate 6Es or 29Es antagonize the pathogenic effect of Rhizoctonia solani in lentil seedlings. However, treatment with Bacillus isolates 25Sp and 27Sp reduced incidence of pathogenicity effect of Macrophomina phaseolina on the same plant. Moreover, the growth of lentil seeds was enhanced by treatment with these bacilli. Cell free cultures of Bacillus isolates showed chitinase, glucanase and protease activities with varying degrees. Also, isolates 6Es and 29Es produced bio-surfactant.