Isolation and Molecular Identification of a Siderophore Producing Bacterium and its Antagonistic Effect against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4

Bananas are one of the world’s most consumed fruits. Developing countries in Global South depend on bananas for food security and livelihoods. Still, banana industry also drives a multinational trade worth billions US dollars. In addition, plants hold cultural religious significances many Asian countries. However, production faces several challenges, major issues is Fusarium wilt disease caused by fungus oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4 (Foc TR4). This threatens numerous cultivars, including Cavendish, traded cultivar. Therefore, objective this study was to find effective measures control spread through antagonistic soil bacteria. isolated 14 fluorescent, siderophore-producing bacteria with vitro inhibition rates 21.73-50.38% against Foc TR4 from surrounding plants. Most isolates were identified as Pseudomonas spp. via 16S rRNA sequencing, phylogenetic analysis based 16s sequences showed clustering congruent results similarity searches. Three that exhibited relatively higher activity compared other JBAA132 (50.38%), K2B131 (46.28%), KTP231 (45.38%). Isolate displayed differences biochemical characteristics its closest match (Pseudomonas aeruginosa type strain DSM50071). It demonstrated nitrogen-fixing phosphate solubilising properties common plant growth promoters. isolate may be further explored potential biocontrol agent curbing TR4.