Russian scientists have established the ability of some bacteria to suppress the development of molds that are dangerous for agricultural plantations. The study was published in the journal Microorganisms, reports RT.
Specialists from the National Research University “BelSU” have revealed this ability in the bacteria Janthinobacterium lividum. The antifungal activity of these bacteria is associated with the presence of a special pigment in them – violacein.
It is noted that the strain isolated on the territory of the Belgorod region was cultivated together with pathogenic fungi in order to find out how they affect the development of each other.
It turned out that the bacteria inhibit the growth of molds dangerous for plants – Alternaria and Aspergillus. The growth of Alternaria mycelium decreased by 10%, and that of Aspergillus by 46.3%.
The discovery will allow in the future to use these bacteria to protect agricultural plantings from pathogens, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation noted.
According to scientists, the preparations, which will include the studied microorganisms, will not be toxic to humans when they are sprayed onto plants. But more research is needed.