Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 24, 2026
Measuring Volatile and Non-volatile Antifungal Activity of Biocontrol Products
Published on: December 5, 2020
In vitro activity of antimicrobial agents against Pseudomonas tolaasii, pathogen of cultivated button mushroom
Biljana Todorović1, Svetlana Milijasević-Marčić, Ivana Potočnik
1Institute of Pesticides and Environmental Protection, Zemun-Belgrade, Serbia.
Abstract:
In vitro antibacterial activity tests of seven biofungicides (Ekstrasol, Bisolbisan, Bisolbifit, Serenade, Sonata, Timorex, F-Stop) and two disinfectants (colloidal silver alone and in combination with hydrogen peroxide) against the Pseudomonas tolaasii strain (NS3B6) were carried out by the disc-diffusion, broth microdilution and broth macrodilution method. Biofungicides tested in this study did not exhibit any antimicrobial activity in neither one of the methods used. Disc diffusion method revealed high sensitivity of the tested P. tolaasii strain to Ecocute based on colloidal silver and hydrogen peroxide. Both microdilution and macrodilution methods identified the same MICs and MBCs of Ecocute (0.19 mg/L) for P. tolaasii strain. MICs and MBCs values of silver alone were much higher (10 mg/L) compared to silver in combination with hydrogen peroxide.
Insights
Seven biofungicides showed no antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas tolaasii. However, Ecocute, a disinfectant combining colloidal silver and hydrogen peroxide, demonstrated potent antimicrobial effects, with low minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Plant Pathology
- Antimicrobial Agents
Background:
- Pseudomonas tolaasii is a plant pathogen causing significant economic losses in agriculture.
- Effective control strategies are crucial to manage bacterial wilt diseases.
- Evaluating novel antimicrobial agents, including biofungicides and disinfectants, is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the in vitro antibacterial activity of selected biofungicides and disinfectants against Pseudomonas tolaasii.
- To determine the efficacy of colloidal silver and hydrogen peroxide, alone and in combination, as potential treatments.
Main Methods:
- Standard microbiological techniques were employed, including disc-diffusion, broth microdilution, and broth macrodilution assays.
- The Pseudomonas tolaasii strain (NS3B6) was used as the target organism.
- Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) were determined.
Main Results:
- None of the seven tested biofungicides exhibited any detectable antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas tolaasii.
- The disc-diffusion method indicated high sensitivity of P. tolaasii to Ecocute (colloidal silver + hydrogen peroxide).
- Ecocute demonstrated potent activity with MICs and MBCs of 0.19 mg/L, significantly lower than colloidal silver alone (10 mg/L).
Conclusions:
- Commercial biofungicides evaluated in this study are ineffective against Pseudomonas tolaasii.
- Ecocute, a combination of colloidal silver and hydrogen peroxide, shows significant promise as an antibacterial agent for controlling P. tolaasii.
- The synergistic effect of combining silver and hydrogen peroxide enhances antibacterial efficacy.
