Harnessing rhizobacteria: Isolation, identification, and antifungal potential against soil pathogens

Rhizobacteria play a crucial role in plant health by providing natural antagonism against soil-borne fungi. The use of rhizobacteria has been viewed as an alternative to the use of chemicals that could be useful for the integrated management of plant diseases and also increase yield in an environmentally friendly manner. However, there is limited understanding of the specific mechanisms by which rhizobacteria inhibit these pathogens and the diversity of rhizobacterial species involved. This study aims to isolate, identify, and characterize rhizobacteria with antagonistic activities against soil-borne fungi. Laboratory tests were carried out on isolated rhizobacteria to evaluate their inhibitory activity against