Mycolytic effect of fluorescent Pseudomonas in biocontrolling of fungal phytopathogenic Curvularia lunata,Fusarium oxysporum,Alternaria padwickii and Rhizoctonia solani

About 50 bacterial strains, each of Pseudomonas fluorescens, from different rhizospheric soil of different plants were screened for antagonistic activity against Curvularia lunata, Fusarium oxysporum, Alternaria padwickii, Rhizoctonia solani causing black kernel, kernel spotting, root rots, stackburn and sheath blight diseases of rice (Oryza sativa L.). Out of the 50 isolates, 15 isolates were found to be effective in lysing the cell wall of the above-mentioned putative pathogens tested in vitro. These Pseudomonas isolates produced mycolytic enzymes, viz. β-1,3-glucanases, β-1,4-glucanases and lipases. P. fluorescens PAK1 and PAK12 among the strains were more effective for the production of these enzymes while PAK12 produce good level of β-1,3-glucanases, β-1,4-glucanases and lipases against tested fungal pathogens. These findings demonstrate a mechanism of antagonism by P. fluorescens against different fungal plant pathogens.