Scientists find 500 chili saving bacteria

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 07/14/2011 5:30 PM

An agricultural research team from Andalas University in Padang, West Sumatra, found 500 species of bacteria that they think might eradicate chili anthracnose.
The team of lecturers, three doctorate students, one graduate student and seven under-graduate students conducted a three-year study and found 500 bacteria that could eliminate anthracnose in chili, Prof. Dr. Sc. Agr. Ir. Jamsari Sp Mp, the head of the university’s biotechnology and plant recovery laboratory, said on Thursday as quoted by kompas.com.

Of the 500 bacteria, 125 certainly eradicated anthracnose in chili, the team said.
“We have gone through the process of identifying the bacteria and the active substances that can prevent pathogen fungi such as Coletotricum capsici, Colletotrichum gleosporides and Colletotricum gleosporides from growing,” Jamsari said.
The effective bacteria include Bacillus, Pseudomonas and Penicillium.
The university will apply the bacteria to replace synthetic fungicides, which are widely available on the market. “We will start to distribute the product in 2012, at the latest,” he added.