Potential of Microbispora sp. V2 as biocontrol agent against Sclerotium rolfsii, the causative agent of southern blight of Zea mays L (Baby corn)--in vitro studies.

The study was undertaken with the aim of exploring novel and beneficial agro activities of rare actinomycetes like Microbispora sp. V2. The antagonistic activity of Microbispora sp. V2 was evaluated as a biocontrol agents against Sclerotium rolfsii, a soil-borne fungal plant pathogen. The methodology performed for evaluation of biocontrol agent was in vitro evaluation assay which comprised of three tests viz., cellophane overlay technique, seed germination test and Thiram (fungicide) tolerance of Microbispora sp. V2. The isolate was found to inhibit the fungal pathogen Sclerotium rolfsii to 91.43% in cellophane assay. In seed germination assay, Microbispora sp. V2 treated seeds resulted in 25.75% increased germination efficiency, as compared to seeds infected by Sclerotium rolfsii. The isolate Microbispora sp. V2 could tolerate 1000 microg mL(-1) of Thiram (fungicide). The in vitro assay studies proved that Microbispora sp. V2 can be used as antifungal antagonist and thus posses' great potential as biocontrol agent against southern blight caused by Sclerotium rolfsii in Zea mays L (Baby corn) which causes large economical losses.

Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity of Erbium(III) Complexes of C-3 Substituted 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthalenedione-1-oxime Derivatives.

Erbium(III) complexes of 2-hydroxy-l,4-naphthalenedione-1-oxime and its C-3 substituted derivatives are synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, infrared spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility measurements 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthalenedione-1-oxime derivatives are analysed using (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy. The molecular composition of the synthesized complexes is found to be [ML(3)(H(2)O)(2)]. The antimicrobial activity of these complexes is determined by well diffusion method against the target microorganisms- Staphylococcus aureus, Xanthomonas campestris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. The antimicrobial activities of 2- hydroxy-1,4-naphthalenedione-1-oximes and their complexes are compared. It is observed that 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthalenedione-l-oximes exhibit higher antifungal activity as compared to antibacterial activity. These activities are reduced upon complexation of these oximes with Erbium.