Anti-pathogenic biocontrol agents, genes encoding antibiotics synthesis and the use of said antibiotics

Purified bacterial strains that are effective for the inhibition of plant pathogens, including the fungi Rhizoctonia solani and Pythium ultimum have been isolated. These strains are useful as biocontrol agents, and can be used to produce antifungal metabolites, such as antibiotic compounds, active against the plant pathogenic fungi Rhizoctonia solani and Pythium ultimum. Both the purified bacterial strains and the antibiotic compounds can be used as active agents for biocontrol compositions. Genes that encode for one or more enzymes useful in the production of an antibiotic active against the plant pathogenic fungus Rhizoctonia solani and Pythium ultimum have been isolated and used to transform biocontrol agents which are not ordinarily effective against said fungi. The transformed biocontrol agents can be used to control Rhizoctonia solani and Pythium ultimum. Fungicidal compositions comprising the combination of an biological disease controlling Pseudomonas flurescens strain and an acylalanine fungicide are useful for controlling fungi.