Characterization of Actinomycetes for Their Antimicrobial Potential Against Bacterial Leaf Blight Pathogen of Oryza Sativa

This study concentrated on the isolation of Actinomycetes from soil samples collected from Bhilai region and their antimicrobial activity assessment against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, the causative agent for bacterial leaf blight in rice. A total of 23 different actinomycetes were isolates, of which 10 were found to possess significant antimicrobial properties. The most effective isolates were identified as belonging to the genus Streptomyces. 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed a high similarity of 99.79% with Streptomyces cavourensis NR_112345. Phylogenetic analysis indicated a close evolutionary relationship with multiple species within the Streptomyces genus. These results suggested that these Streptomycetes might be useful as biocontrol agents in the management of bacterial leaf blight of rice. This would facilitate with sustainable agriculture. In addition, this investigation showed the importance of harnessing local microbial resources to design herbal-based biocontrol agents.