3.2. Molecular and morphological identification
Morphological (colony) and microscope (cell shape and size) observations of the four selected antagonists were performed (Table 1). The four selected isolates were also identified by sequencing the ribosomal regions ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 with universal primers ITS-1 and ITS-4 (Table 1). BLASTN analysis showed that isolates R23 and R26 had the highest similarity (98% for both isolates) to Metschnikowia pulcherrima (Accession No. AY235809),
whereas isolate R9 showed the highest similarity (99%) to Pichia guilliermondii (Accession No. DQ663478). The sequence of isolate SB1 was identical (100%) to Sporidiobolus pararoseus (Accession No. JQ425362). The sequencing results confirmed morphological and microspore observations.