IN VITRO ANTI-BACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF THE SOIL FUNGAL METABOLITES

Abstract

Soil microbial communities are the most diverse group on earth possessing a plethora of activities useful to mankind. Fungal species in particular, produce secondary metabolites that are potential bioactive compounds. In the present study, fungal species isolated from the soils of Kolli Hills, Tamil Nadu were subjected to a primary screening for their antibacterial activity. Ten fungal strains were selected and their extracts were tested against pathogenic bacteria by disc diffusion method. The most efficient species identified as Chaetomium aureum showed remarkable inhibitory effect against the pathogenic bacteria tested and hence growth conditions such as culture medium, pH, temperature, incubation period and the minimal inhibitory concentration were standardized for the maximum production of the secondary metabolites.