The culturable component of bacterial communities found in the endoroot and associated exoroot (root zone soil) was examined in potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) grown under either conventional or minimum tillage systems. Bacterial species--abundance relationships were determined and in vitro antibiosis ability investigated to discover whether tillage practice or bacteria source (endo- or exoroot) influenced bacterial community structure and functional versatility. Antibiosis abilities against Phytophthora erythroseptica Pethyb.