Importance of antibiotic production in antagonism of selected Streptomyces species to two soil-borne plant pathogens.

Antagonism of ten Streptomyces spp., five of which produce antibiotics, to the plant pathogens Rhizoctonia solani and Phytophthora megasperma var. sojae was studied. Antibiotic activity was detected in culture for the five antibiotic producers. S. griseus, S. hygroscopicus var. geldanus, and S. noursei produced wide zones of inhibition to R. solani and P. megasperma var. sojae. Similar activity was found for S. reticuli var. protomycicus to P. megasperma var. sojae. S. cellulosae reduced Rhizoctonia root rot on pea when sterile soil was infested simultaneously with the antagonist and R. solani. S. hygroscopicus gave almost complete disease control when the streptomycete was added 7 days prior to infesting the soil with R. solani. Several of the Streptomyces spp. reduced Phytophthora root rot on soybean when the streptomycetes were added to soil at the same time as P. megasperma var. sojae or 7 days prior to adding the pathogen. S. herbaricolor and S. coeruleofuscus gave the most consistent control. No relationship was found between reported antibiotic activity or antagonism on agar media and reduction in disease severity. Only S. hygroscopicus var. geldanus gave both control of Rhizoctonia root rot and large zones of inhibition on agar media when the streptomycetes were preincubated in soil for 7 days.