Production of peptide antifungal antibiotic and biocontrol activity of Bacillus subtilis.

Among different bacterial cultures, a potent Bacillus subtilis MTCC-8114 was isolated from garden soil samples which showed 16 and 14 mm inhibition zones by spot inoculation method and 24 and 22 mm inhibition zones by well agar diffusion method against test fungi i.e. Microsporum fulvum and Trichophyton species. Among four media tested, the maximum growth and antibiotic production was found in trypticase soya broth (TSB) medium at 37 degrees C, pH-7 and 48 h of incubation. The Rf value (0.64) by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) technique and UV and FTIR spectral data of the active antifungal compound, indicated that the isolated compound belongs to peptide antifungal antibiotic group. MIC value of antifungal antibiotic was 135 and 145 microg/ml.