Bacteria and actinomycetes antagonistic to fungal root pathogens in Australian soils.

Techniques are described which make possible the large.scale isolation and screening of potential antagonists to fungal root pathogens. Sixty selected soils from five States have been sampled. Of more than 3500 isolates tested, about 40% inhibited one or more of nine pathogens on agar, and about 4% were effective in soil; a lower percentage might be effective under commercial conditions. Such large. scale methods are essential to success.