from 37.5 % at 24 h to 70.7 % at 168 h in the conventional
streak method. The gradual increase in the percentage
inhibition and decrease in the inter-colony distances
between the antagonists and the mycelium in vitro
(Figures 3 and 4) is a clear indication of their ability to
implicate good yield production of the mushroom during
solid state fermentation. The inter-colony distance
between the mycelium and the antagonist streak and the
degree of growth rate inhibition as observed in this study
supported the view that antagonism results from the active
production of a diffusible antimicrobial compound by the
microorganisms. These results are in agreement with
other studies where the inhibitory effects of some bacteria
having antifungal properties were the main factor affecting
the potential of Pleurotus spp. in ecosystem colonization
(De Boer et al., 1998; Savoie et al., 2001). Also some
bacterial strains are capable of inhibiting through the
production of volatile organic compounds (Mackie and Wheatley 1999) or by releasing antibiotics (Nielsen et al.,
2000)