title: Agar composition affects in vitro screening of biocontrol activity of antagonistic microorganisms.
abstract: Agar-based screening assays are the method of choice when evaluating antagonistic potential of bacterial biocontrol-candidates against pathogens. We showed that when using the same medium, but different agar compositions, the activity of a bacterial antagonist against Agrobacterium was strongly affected. Consequently, results from in vitro screenings should be interpreted cautiously.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Process Microbial Ecology and Bioinspirational Management (PME&BIM), Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems (M(2)S), KU Leuven, Campus De Nayer, B-2860 Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bosmans
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbial Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: De Bruijn
authors.affiliation: Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, M(2)S, KU Leuven, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Mot
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Process Microbial Ecology and Bioinspirational Management (PME&BIM), Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems (M(2)S), KU Leuven, Campus De Nayer, B-2860 Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rediers
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Process Microbial Ecology and Bioinspirational Management (PME&BIM), Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems (M(2)S), KU Leuven, Campus De Nayer, B-2860 Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium. Electronic address: bart.lievens@kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lievens
mesh_terms: D000362:Agar / Q000737:chemistry*; D000898:Antibiosis; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000362:Agar
keywords: Agar composition; Agar in vitro screening; Biocontrol activity