ISOLATION, IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF BACTERIAL ANTAGONISTS OF THE DRAGON FRUIT FUNGAL PATHOGEN Neoscytalidium dimidiatum

Dragon fruit or pitahaya (Hylocereus spp.) are famous for their nutrient-rich favourable taste, which brings high economic value to subtropical and tropical countries. However, dragon cultivation all over the world is threatened by fungal pathogens among them, Neoscytalidium dimidiatum has recently been shown be responsible stem canker rot cause big losses. In order find an environmentally friendly way control this pathogen, five out of sixty-nine bacterial isolates used in a screening test antifungal activity were selected. All strains appeared aerobic Gram positive spore forming bacteria suggesting that they belong Bacillus genus. Cell-free culture supernatants these found strongly inhibit both germination mycelia growth vitro at least 5 days. The strain D19 possessed highest antagonistic effect was further identified amyloliquefaciens, well-known species have against several other pathogenic fungi. Thus, results study opened new promising perspective prevent infection during fruit.