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Updated: Mar 21, 2026

Use of the Soft-agar Overlay Technique to Screen for Bacterially Produced Inhibitory Compounds
Published on: January 14, 2017
Agar composition affects in vitro screening of biocontrol activity of antagonistic microorganisms
L Bosmans1, I De Bruijn2, R De Mot3
1Laboratory for Process Microbial Ecology and Bioinspirational Management (PME&BIM), Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems (M(2)S), KU Leuven, Campus De Nayer, B-2860 Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium.
Abstract:
Agar-based screening assays are the method of choice when evaluating antagonistic potential of bacterial biocontrol-candidates against pathogens. We showed that when using the same medium, but different agar compositions, the activity of a bacterial antagonist against Agrobacterium was strongly affected. Consequently, results from in vitro screenings should be interpreted cautiously.
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