Preliminary study of myxobacteria as biocontrol agents for panama disease pathogen, tropical race 4 Fusarium odoratissimum

Abstract

Newly described pathogenic fungal Fusarium odoratissimum is known to cause severe panama disease on banana and grouped as tropical race 4. The disease constrains banana production throughout the world with no known method to completely manage the disease. This study assayed the ability of myxobacteria to control the pathogen. Myxobacteria were isolated from soil, karst limestone, and decaying wood in Karimun and Simeuleu islands using filter paper and baiting methods. A total of 20 myxobacterial isolates were collected during the process. Based on 16S rRNA gene analysis, they were identified as Myxococcus, Archangium and Corallococcus. To our knowledge, this is the first record of the last two genera in Indonesia. Antifungal assay of two myxobacterial isolates Corallococcus KR39b.5 and SLU3.3 extracted using ethyl acetate against F. odoratissimum InaCC F936 and F. odoratissimum InaCC F946 revealed that both were capable of inhibiting the fungal growth up to 40%. The results suggested the possibility of utilizing myxobacteria as biocontrol agents against pathogenic F. odoratissimum.