Actinomycetes Potential Application for Biological Control of Banana Crop Disease

Sigatoka disease is one of the banana crop disease caused by Mycosphaerella, the pathogenic fungus. In order to control this disease, farmers usually spray their crop using fungicides. However, controlling approaches are not always well known or adopted by all farmers. This study aimed to isolate fungi from soil samples collected from infected banana plant. Besides, to determine antifungal activity of actinomycetes towards isolated fungi. Thirteen fungi were isolated from the soil samples and 10 potential fungi were proceed with antifungal assay. Five actinomycetes strains were picked as test microorganism where Strain 47, Strain 72 and Strain 108 showed positive antifungal activity against isolated fungi. However, Strain 5 and Strain 56 did not show any activities. Further study on identification of the fungi isolates by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and DNA sequencing should be carried out to confirm the species. Moreover, other microorganisms also can be used to test for antifungal activity towards the isolated fungi.