An antibiotic‐producing strain ofBacillus subtilishas been shown to produce potent antifungal volatiles (AFV). These volatiles are active against a range of fungal species and are produced on a range of growth media and in loam‐based compost.In vitroantifungal volatile activity on nutrient agar is enhanced with the addition of D‐glucose, complex carbohydrates and peptones. The addition of L‐glucose led to significantly less AFV activity than comparable levels of D‐glucose. Growth studies in liquid culture revealed thatB. subtilisfailed to grow in response to L‐glucose. Further growth studies on solid media showed no clear correlation between enhanced bacterial growth and increases inin vitro AFVactivity in response to supply of substrates. Low level AFV activity was also detected from oilseed rape roots inoculated withB. subtilis. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry headspace analysis ofB. subtiliscultures grown on various substrates revealed common similarities between substrates promoting AFV activity, although it was not possible to isolate individual antifunga
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