Characterization of Antifungal Volatile Organic Compounds Produced by Bacterial Endophytes against Fusarium oxysporum through GC-MS Analysis

Banana (Musa spp.) is one of the most important fruit crops cultivated throughout the world. Fusarium wilt caused by the fungus, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (E.F. Smith) Snyder & Hansen (Foc) causes significant threats to banana production. Endophytic bacteria play a significant role in plant protection against soil borne plant pathogens and promote overall productivity of agricultural ecosystems. Secondary metabolites produced by several species of Bacillus have been found to possess antibacterial or antifungal activity against different isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense. These were identified by crude tests using agar gel diffusion and GC-MS analysis of the fungal crude extracts. Understanding of the metabolites produced by endophytes is also important in the context of biological control of soil-borne diseases of banana. GC-MS analysis of crude antibiotic extracts of bacterial endophytic isolates viz., GNBS3, PVBS3, NPBS4, KVBS4, BS1, revealed DL-Proline,5 Oxo as the major compound. Having both antifungal and antibacterial activity.