Soil and water microbial communities: A source of novel antibiotics for sustainable plant disease control

Abstract

Pathogenic microorganisms pose a significant threat to plant health and agricultural productivity worldwide. Herein, this study explores the potential of natural microbial communities as sources of biopesticides. We analyzed 20 soil and water samples from remote areas, isolating 121 colonies using nutrient agar. Antibacterial activity was assessed through agar diffusion, revealing that 12 colonies exhibited significant inhibitory effects against various pathogenic bacteria. Measurement of inhibition zones indicated that these colonies could produce antibiotics. Subsequently, molecular characterization with 16S rRNA and BLAST searches of 12 unidentified sequences highlighted substantial microbial diversity within the samples. This research underscores the promise of these natural microbial communities in developing biocontrol agents for managing plant diseases in greenhouse and field environments. Extraction and purification techniques could further refine these antibiotics, advancing sustainable agricultural practices.