| abstract |
The present invention relates to newly isolated bacterial strains, members of the genus Paenibacillus, originally isolated from soil, that exhibit antagonistic activity against a broad spectrum of pathogens and are capable of producing antimicrobial metabolites. Strains Lu16774 and Lu17007 were found to belong to a new subspecies named Paenibacillus polymyxa ssp. plantarum, while strain Lu17015 belonged to a new species believed to be Paenibacillus epiphyticus. The present invention also relates to microbial pesticidal compositions comprising at least one such novel bacterial strain, its whole culture or cell-free extract or fraction or at least one metabolite thereof, and/or exhibiting antagonism against plant pathogens Active, mutants of at least one of said novel bacterial strains having all the identifying characteristics of the corresponding bacterial strain, or whole cultures, cell-free extracts, fractions and/or metabolites thereof. The invention also relates to methods for controlling or inhibiting phytopathogens or preventing infection by phytopathogens by applying such compositions. The present invention also relates to novel fusaridin-type compounds which are metabolites produced by the strains of the present invention. |