Antagonistic effect of native microorganisms from agricultural soils against phytopathogenic fungi

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the antagonistic effect of native microorganisms from agricultural soils against phytopathogenic fungi associated with representative crops in the region.  Material and Methods: Bacteria and fungi were isolated from soil samples collected from various agricultural crops using conventional microbiological methods. Subsequently, in vitro direct confrontation tests were performed to determine the antagonistic activity of the isolated microorganisms. Results: None of the evaluated bacteria showed antagonistic activity against the phytopathogenic fungi in tomato, pepper, carrot, orange, and ulluco crops. In contrast, some fungi, particularly H-pap-11 and H-pap-15, showed significant inhibition of the phytopathogens in tomato, pepper, and carrot, highlighting their potential as biocontrol agents. Conclusions: Although no antagonistic activity was detected in the bacteria, the positive results obtained with certain native fungi suggest their potential as an ecological alternative in the biological control of agricultural diseases, opening new perspectives for the sustainable management of phytopathogens.