[In vitro control of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Gaeumannomyces graminis by bacteria of the fluorescent Pseudomonas group].

Thirty six fluorescent Pseudomonas isolates were obtained from the rhizosphere of sunflower plants. By antibiosis tests, the six more efficient strains in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum growth inhibition, were selected. Simultaneously, twenty three fluorescent Pseudomonas isolates were recuperated from the rhizosphere of wheat plants and the five most efficient strains in growth inhibition of the fungi Gaeumannomyces graminis were selected. The strains selected from the rhizosphere of sunflower plants had no antagonistic effect on G. graminis and the bacteria isolated from the wheat rhizosphere showed no fungistatic activity on S. sclerotiorum. These results suggest the existence of a certain degree of plant bacteria pathogenic specificity. Among the selected bacteria, the strain FF5 of P. fluorescens originated the major inhibiting halo in vitro against S. sclerotiorum (Figure 1). In liquid culture medium this bacterium produces an antifungal substance that promotes lysis of fungi mycelium (Figure 2) and inhibition of ascospore germination and is not inhibited by the presence of Fe+3 in the culture medium (Table 1). Its synthesis is not associated with the production of fluorescein. Its action is not enzymatic because it is a substance of low molecular weight (< 2000), resistant to autoclave sterilization and photo-stable. The amount of NH4+ and the high pH values produced by the FF5 strain in the liquid culture medium (Table 2) are not responsible for the antifungalal action.