Streptomyces ambofaciens S2 - A Potential Biological Control Agent forColletotrichum gleosporioides the Causal Agent for Anthracnose in RedChilli Fruits

Streptomycetes ambofaciens S2 was chosen to study its ability to control Colletotrichum gloeosporioides in chilli fruits. Soil samples were collected from Malaysia Agriculture Research Development Institute (MARDI) Pontain Research Station in Johor Darul Takzim, Malaysia. Streptomyces were later isolated from the soil samples and subjected to antifungal screening, metabolites characterization and in vivo testing of the potential microbes. In this study, 110 isolates of streptomycetes were successfully isolated from peat soil samples collected from Malaysia Agriculture Research Development Institute (MARDI) Pontain Research Station in Johor Darul Takzim, Malaysia. Screening for antifungal activity showed that 10 isolates of streptomycetes gave antifungal inhibition zone of 8-16 mm separately. Streptomyces ambofaciens S2 was later chosen for further testing based on the widest antifungal inhibition zone exhibited (16 mm). Characterization of S. ambofaciens S2 using both light microscope and scanning electron microscope showed that, S. ambofaciens S2 spores appeared to be rough while the spore chain arrangement was long and spiral. In vivo testing on S. ambofaciens S2, showed that C. gleosporioides infected chilli fruits sprayed with S. ambofacines S2 extract did not showed any sign of infection when compared with chilli fruits sprayed with ethyl acetate. Minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) performed on S. ambofaciens S2 against C. gleosporioides was observed to be 0.8125 mg/ml. The test conducted showed that S. ambofaciens S2 maybe an alternative biopesticide for control of C. gleosporioides. However, further tests should be in place to ascertain the viability and toxicity of the extract towards human health and environment.