Antimicrobial activity of Paenibacillus peoriae strain NRRL BD-62 against a broad spectrum of phytopathogenic bacteria and fungi.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the potential antagonistic activity of Paenibacillus peoriae strain NRRL BD-62 against phytopathogenic micro-organisms and to determine the physiological and biochemical characteristics of the antimicrobial compound produced by this strain.


RESULTS
Strain NRRL BD-62 showed a broad inhibition spectrum with activity against various phytopathogenic bacteria and fungi. Physico-chemical characterization of the antimicrobial activity showed that it was stable during heat treatment and was retained even after autoclave at 121 degrees C for 10 min. The compound was also stable after the treatment with organic solvents, hydrolytic enzymes and its activity was preserved at a wide range of pH. The partial purification carried out by Sephadex G25 gel filtration showed two profiles of inhibition against the indicator strains tested, suggesting at least two different substances with distinct molecular weight.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report on the production of antimicrobial substances in P. peoriae. Besides the antimicrobial inhibition capability, the strain NRRL BD-62 is also able to effectively fix molecular nitrogen, and produce chitinases and proteases as well, suggesting that further studies should be addressed to use P. peoriae strain NRRL BD-62 as a plant growth promoter and/or as a biocontrol agent in field experiments.
von der Weid
I
I
Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Prof Paulo de Góes, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Alviano
D S
DS
Santos
A L S
AL
Soares
R M A
RM
Alviano
C S
CS
Seldin
L
L
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D000898:Antibiosis; D001407:Bacillus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D002688:Chitinases / Q000378:metabolism; D003470:Culture Media; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000494:pharmacology; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012997:Solvents; D013696:Temperature
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003470:Culture Media; D012997:Solvents; D002688:Chitinases; D010450:Endopeptidases; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases