Physiological Characteristics of Actinomycetes Isolated from Turfgrass Rhizosphere

Total 443 isolates of actinomycetes were isolated from turfgrass rhizosphere as potential biological control agents. The two isolates (S11 and S4) showed highest cellulase activity with compared to the other isolates that exhibited a clear zone of 1.2 mm around the colony on cellulose agar medium. S12 strain appeared the most active chitin degrading, which exhibited a 1.2 mm of clear zone. The highest proteolytic activity on skim milk agar was which exhibited a 7.5 mm of clear zone by S2 strain. S1 strain from the soli showed siderophore production ability, which exhibited a 0.6 mm of large clear zone on chrome azurol S agar. The antifungal activity of the volatile compound producing by 4 selected actinomycetes was investigated that inhibition rate against Rhizoctonia solani AG2-2 and Sclerotinia homoeocarpa. Growth inhibition effect of S8 isolate against S. homoeocarpa was appeared to 94.8%, S2 to 76.9%, S5 to 46.1% and S12 to 43.5%. The significant inhibition effects on mycelial growth of S. homoeocarpa were shown on media with four strains. The inhibition effect was the highest with S8 strain treatment at 94.8%.