EVALUATION OF ANTAGONISTIC ACTIVITY OF CHROMOBACTERIUM VIOLACEUM ISOLATED FROM THE PADDY FIELDS OF EDATHUA, KERALA

The soil surrounding the plant root, which has direct impact on plant by different microorganisms is known as the rhizosphere. This study focussed on the isolation, identification, and screening of different rhizosphere bacteria in the rice-growing regions of Edathua, Kerala. These rhizobacteria were first isolated on KingsB Agar and Nutrient Agar media. Gram staining is used to analyse the pigmentation property, and its antagonistic properties were screened by dual culture method. The bacteria were determined to be Chromobacteriumviolaceumafter identification by partial gene sequencing using the 16SrDNA method. Chromobacteriumviolaceumis not typically considered as a common inhabitant of the rhizosphere region of paddy field, but in this studyit has been found in rhizosphere soil of paddy. It was further established that the chosen pigment, isolate possesses the antagonistic capacity to generate non-volatile chemicals that inhibit the test pathogen (Fusarium sp.).This antimicrobaland antifungal properties of bacteria helps themto compete with other pathogenic microorganism in its environment and further shows its potential to be exploited as a natural ecofriendly biocontrol agent.