Isolation, characterization and biological activities of a toxin from Bacillus megaterium (B-23).

Fungitoxic substance was isolated from the culture filtrate of B. megaterium (B-23). Age of culture and pH of medium influence the fungitoxicity of its culture filtrate. Partially purified toxin was thermolabile, non-dialysable, ethyl acetate soluble, vanillin-sulphuric acid positive and effective within a range of pH 5-9. It exhibited maximum UV absorption at 224 nm. Its melting point was 242 degrees C. The efficacy of this compound was tested on 4 jute parasites namely, C. corchori, C. gloeosporioides, M. roridum and A. citri, of which M. roridum and C. corchori were least and most sensitive to the toxin respectively.