Potential role for salicylic acid in induced resistance of asparagus roots to Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. asparagi

Pre-inoculation of asparagus ( Asparagus officinalis ) roots with selected nonpathogenic isolates of Fusarium oxysporum (np Fo ) has previously been shown to induce systemic resistance against infection by F. oxysporum f.sp. asparagi ( Foa ) through activation of plant-defence mechanisms. To elucidate the putative np Fo -mediated defence pathways, the effect of salicylic acid (SA) was examined in a split-root system of asparagus where one half of the seedling root system was drenched with SA and the activation of defence responses was measured subsequently on the remaining roots. SA-treated plants exhibited enhanced systemic resistance, with a significant reduction in disease severity of the roots inoculated with Foa , compared with untreated plants. SA activated peroxidase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, as well as lignification, upon Foa attack, in a manner similar to that observed with np Fo pretreatment. In addition, application of diphenyleneiodonium, an SA biosynthesis inhibitor, led to failure of np Fo to induce lignin deposition and systemic resistance. Treatment of fungal spores with SA did not affect germination and growth of either np Fo or Foa in in vitro antifungal assays. Production of SA at the site of np Fo infection may be involved in the induction of Foa resistance in asparagus roots.     

Plant defence reactions against fusarium wilt in chickpea induced by incompatible race 0 of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceris and nonhost isolates of F. oxysporum

Germinated seeds of 'kabuli' chickpea cv. ICCV 4 were inoculated with a conidial suspension of the incompatible race 0 of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceris (Foc) or of nonhost F. oxysporum resistance 'inducers', and 3 days later were challenged by root dip with a conidial suspension of highly virulent Foc race 5. Prior inoculation with inducers delayed the onset of symptoms and/or significantly reduced the final amount of fusarium wilt caused by race 5. However, the extent of disease suppression varied with the nature of the inducing agent; the nonhost isolates of F. oxysporum were more effective at disease suppression than the incompatible Foc race 0. Inoculation with the inducers gave rise to synthesis of maackiain and medicarpin phytoalexins in inoculated seedlings; these did not accumulate in plant tissues but were released into the inoculum suspension. Inoculation with inducers also resulted in accumulation of chitinase, β-1,3-glucanase and peroxidase activities in plant roots. These defence-related responses were induced more consistently and intensely by nonhost isolates of F. oxysporum than by incompatible Foc race 0. The phytoalexins and, to a lesser extent, the antifungal hydrolases, were also induced after challenge inoculation with Foc race 5. However, in this case the defence responses were induced in both preinduced and noninduced plants infected by the pathogen. It is concluded that the suppression of fusarium wilt in this study possibly involved an inhibitory effect on the pathogen of preinduced plant defences, rather than an increase in the expression of defence mechanisms of preinduced plants following a subsequent challenge inoculation.     

Implication of Systemic Induced Resistance in the Suppression of Fusarium Wilt of Tomato by Pseudomonas fluorescens WCS417r and by Nonpathogenic Fusarium oxysporum Fo47

Fluorescent pseudomonads and nonpathogenic Fusarium oxysporum have been shown to suppress fusarium wilts. This suppression has been related to both microbial antagonism and induced resistance.The aim of the present study was to assess the relative importance of systemic induced resistance in the suppression of fusarium wilt of tomato in commercial-like conditions by a reference strain of each type of microorganism (P. fluorescens WCS417r and nonpathogenic F. oxysporum Fo47). The spatial separation of the pathogen and the biocontrol strains excluded any possible microbial antagonism and implicated the involvement of the systemic induced resistance; whereas the absence of any separation between these microorganisms allowed the expression of both mechanisms. Since systemic induced resistance has often been associated with the synthesis of PR-proteins, their accumulation in tomato plants inoculated with WCS417r or with Fo47 was determined.The analysis of the results indicates that the suppression of fusarium wilt by P. fluorescens WCS417r was ascribed to systemic induced resistance without any detection of the PR-proteins tested (PR-1 and chitinases). In contrast, the suppression achieved by nonpathogenic F. oxysporum Fo47 appeared to be mainly ascribed to microbial antagonism but also to a lesser extent to systemic induced resistance. This induced resistance could be related to the accumulation of PR-1 and chitinases.The possible relationship between the ability of Fo47 to suppress fusarium wilt more efficiently than WCS417r and its ability to show both mechanisms is discussed.     

Fusarium oxysporum Fo47 confers protection to pepper plants against Verticillium dahliae and Phytophthora capsici,and induces the expression of defence genes

The application of the nonpathogenic isolate Fusarium oxysporum 47 (Fo47) reduced the symptoms of verticillium wilt, phytophthora root rot and phytophthora blight in pepper plants. Botrytis cinerea was also tested on the leaves of plants treated with Fo47, but no protection was observed. Verticillium dahliae colonies cultured in the presence of Fo47 grew slower than control cultures, but Phytophthora capsici growth was unaffected by Fo47. At least part of the protection effect observed against V. dahliae could therefore be due to antagonism or competition. In order to search for induced resistance mechanisms, three defence genes previously related to pepper resistance were monitored over time. These genes encode a basic PR‐1 protein (CABPR1), a class II chitinase (CACHI2) and a sesquiterpene cyclase (CASC1) involved in the synthesis of capsidiol, a phytoalexin. These three genes were transiently up‐regulated in the roots by Fo47 in the absence of inoculation with the pathogen, but in the stem only CABPR1 was up‐regulated. In plants that were inoculated with V. dahliae after the Fo47 treatment, the three genes had a higher relative expression level than the control in both the roots and the stem.     

Diversity of pathogenic Fusarium populations associated with asparagus roots in decline soils in Spain and the UK

Asparagus decline is a disease associated with several species of Fusarium . In order to assess the relative significance of causative species, single-stranded conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of the ITS2 (internal transcribed sequence) region of the ribosomal DNA was used to rapidly and objectively identify the fusarial populations associated with the roots of two intensively sampled asparagus crops, one in the UK and the other in Spain. Over 360 fusarial isolates were obtained from fields showing symptoms of asparagus decline, and most were easily differentiated by SSCP into four principal species, F. oxysporum f. sp. asparagi , F. proliferatum , F. redolens and F. solani . Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. asparagi (Foa) was most frequently isolated from the UK site (69%), whilst Foa and F. proliferatum were found in similar proportions overall (40 and 39%, respectively) from the Spanish site, although individual fields showed considerable intraregional variation. Other minor populations, such as F. culmorum , were also found. Most isolates were highly pathogenic to asparagus in vitro , although F. solani isolates comprised both pathogenic and nonpathogenic populations. Two populations of Foa were distinguished by a single ITS2 base transition, and the dominance of these two populations differed between Europe and the USA. Fusarium proliferatum was more abundant in Spain than in the UK. Phylogenetic analysis using EF1α sequences indicated that isolates of F. oxysporum pathogenic to asparagus are spread across a number of clades within the species complex, supporting the hypothesis that pathogenicity to asparagus in this species is a relatively unspecialized trait.     

AM真菌和镰刀菌对西瓜根系膜脂过氧化作用和膜透性的影响

 在温室盆栽条件下研究了丛枝菌根(arbuscular mycorrhiza,AM)真菌Glomus versiforme (Karsten) Berch和西瓜枯萎镰刀菌(Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum)对西瓜根系中膜脂过氧化产物丙二醛(MDA)含量和细胞膜透性的影响。结果表明,接种AM真菌的西瓜根系中MDA含量、组织自动氧化速率和膜透性均低于对照,先接种G. versiforme,后接种F. oxysporum f. sp. niveum处理的MDA含量、组织自动氧化速率和细胞膜透性均低于只接种F. oxysporum f. sp. niveum的处理。接种G. versiforme感枯萎病西瓜品种"郑杂5号"MDA含量、组织自动氧化速率和膜透性降低幅度大于抗病品种"京欣1号"的接种处理,说明G. versiforme可降低感病西瓜品种的膜透性和MDA的产生,从而有效地保护细胞膜系统,减轻F. oxysporum f. sp. niveum对西瓜的为害程度。     

镰刀菌对大蒜根系分泌物的敏感性与其致病力相关分析

试验采用菌丝生长速率法测定了大蒜根系分泌物对3种供试植物病原镰刀菌的抑菌活性, 并进一步分析了18株从腐烂蒜瓣上分离的尖孢镰刀菌和12株从小麦赤霉病样分离的禾谷镰刀菌对大蒜根系分泌物的敏感性及致病力之间的关系。研究结果表明, 大蒜根系分泌物对供试镰刀菌均具有抑制活性, 但从腐烂蒜瓣上分离的尖孢镰刀菌对根系分泌物的敏感性低于其他菌株。致病力分析结果表明, 供试的18株尖孢镰刀菌均能使蒜瓣发病, 但致病力与其对根系分泌物的敏感性无明显相关性; 供试的禾谷镰刀菌中对根系分泌物不敏感的4株菌株能侵染蒜瓣, 但敏感性高的菌株不能侵染蒜瓣, 且根系分泌物对禾谷镰刀菌的抑制率与禾谷镰刀菌致病力之间呈显著的负相关。这表明大蒜根系分泌抑菌物质是根系抵御镰刀菌侵染的重要机制, 但一些菌株能对根系分泌物产生抗性, 从而侵染大蒜。综上所述, 大蒜根系分泌物对镰刀菌具有抑制活性, 可以利用大蒜和其他作物间作或轮作控制镰刀菌枯萎病的发生和蔓延, 但长期利用大蒜轮作或间作控制土传病害可能面临镰刀菌对大蒜根系分泌物产生抗性, 导致防效降低的风险。     

The potential of nonpathogenic Fusarium oxysporum and other biological control organisms for suppressing fusarium wilt of banana

The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of nonpathogenic F. oxysporum and Trichoderma isolates from suppressive soils in South Africa to suppress fusarium wilt of banana in the glasshouse. Several biological control agents and commercial biological control products were included in the study. The isolates were first screened in vitro on potato dextrose agar. In glasshouse evaluations, the fungal and bacterial isolates were established on banana roots before they were replanted in pathogen-infested soil, while the commercial biocontrol agents were applied as directed by the supplier. Banana plantlets were evaluated for disease development after 7 weeks. In vitro tests showed none of the nonpathogenic isolates suppressed Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense ( Foc ), while slight suppression was observed with the two Trichoderma isolates. Results of the glasshouse evaluations revealed that two of the nonpathogenic F. oxysporum isolates, CAV 255 and CAV 241, reduced fusarium wilt incidence by 87·4 and 75·0%, respectively. The known biological control agent Fo47 did not suppress Foc significantly. Pseudomonas fluorescens strain WCS 417, known for its ability to suppress other fusarium wilt diseases (WCS 417), reduced disease incidence by 87·4%. These isolates should be further evaluated for potential application in the field, independently and in combination.     

番茄枯萎抗病性室内鉴定方法研究

 明确番茄枯萎病苗期抗病性鉴定方法中浸根接种的最佳苗龄为两片真叶期,此龄期根系发育多,拔苗后须根自然伤断,浸根接种率高。浸根接种随即移栽的与浸根2、5、10min的,它们之间发病差异不大。包括接种液浓度10⁷孢子/ml和土温28℃~30℃在内的苗期人工接种方法,仅14天便可准确鉴定番茄品种(材料)对枯萎病的抗病性。     

Comparison of root and foliar applications of potassium silicate in potentiating post‐infection defences of melon against powdery mildew

The application of silicon to the roots or leaves reduces the severity of powdery mildew (Podosphaera xanthii) in melon but the latter treatment is less effective. This study compared key biochemical defence responses of melon triggered by P. xanthii after root or foliar treatment with potassium silicate (PS). Treatments consisted of pathogen‐inoculated or mock‐inoculated plants supplied with PS via roots or foliarly, as well as a non‐treated control. The activity of defence enzymes and the concentration of phenolic compounds, lignin and malondialdehyde were determined from leaf samples at different time points after inoculation. Pathogen‐inoculated plants irrigated with PS showed both an accumulation of silicon and primed defence responses in leaves that were not observed in pathogen‐inoculated plants either sprayed with PS or not treated. These responses included the anticipated activity of peroxidase and accumulation of soluble phenols, the activation of chitinase and repression of catalase, and the stronger activation of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and β‐1,3‐glucanase. Moreover, the lignin concentration increased in response to inoculation, whereas the malondialdehyde concentration decreased. For the foliar treatment, however, only an increase in lignin deposition was observed compared with the control plants. The results show that silicon strongly plays an active role in modulating the defence responses of melon against P. xanthii when supplied to the roots as opposed to the foliage.     

接种根瘤菌及尖孢镰刀菌对大豆防御酶活性的影响

用尖孢镰刀菌接种盛花期（播种60 d）的结瘤大豆,接种0、24、48、72、96、120、144 h后测定叶片中苯丙氨酸解氨酶、多酚氧化酶、超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化物酶4种防御酶的活性变化并进行分析。结果表明,接种尖孢镰刀菌后接种根瘤菌的大豆植株防御酶活性均高于未接种根瘤菌的大豆植株和空白对照,表明大豆接种根瘤菌对尖孢镰刀菌具有一定的防御能力,同时可提高其叶片中苯丙氨酸解氨酶、多酚氧化酶、超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化物酶4种防御酶的活性。     

Fungal polygalacturonase activity reflects susceptibility of carnation cultivars to fusarium wilt

Carnation cultivars with different levels of partial resistance were inoculated with race 2 of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. dianthi and monitored for accumulation of host phytoalexins, fungal escape from compartmentalization, production of fungal pectin-degrading enzymes and development of external disease symptoms. Accumulation of phytoalexins, assessed after 10 days in the first 5 cm above the inoculation site, was weakly (methoxydianthramide S) or not (hydroxydianthalexin B) correlated with resistance levels after 12 weeks. Fungal escape from compartmentalization, assessed after 3 weeks as percentages colonized plants at 8 cm above the inoculation site, was highly correlated with expression of susceptibility after 12 weeks. Polygalacturonase (PG) activity, assessed after 4 weeks in the first 5 cm above the inoculation site, was highly correlated to final disease development. Linear increases in disease severity were accompanied by quadratic increases in PG activity. In contrast to water-treated plants, that lacked any PG activity, inoculated plants contained two main groups of fungal PGs, the dominant forms of which had estimated pI values of 7.0 and minimally 9.5, respectively. Compared to those of the first group, enzymes of the second group were produced only in trace amounts in liquid media containing pectin or polygalacturonate as sole source of carbon. On these media, the fungus also produced a pectin methyl esterase (PME) with an estimated pI of 9.3. Besides PMEs of host origin, inoculated plants of susceptible cultivars contained the fungal PME while no more than traces were found in resistant ones.Assessment of phytoalexin production by the host during defense responses cannot replace monitoring of external symptoms as a resistance test. Assessment of fungal growth, whether by reisolations above the compartmentalization area or by measurement of PG activity, provides a both rapid and reliable prediction of disease development.     

Cytological Analysis of Defense-Related Mechanisms Induced in Pea Root Tissues in Response to Colonization by Nonpathogenic Fusarium oxysporum Fo47

The ability of nonpathogenic Fusarium oxysporum, strain Fo47, to trigger plant defense reactions was investigated using Ri T-DNA-transformed pea roots. Cytological investigations of strain Fo47-inoculated roots showed that the fungus grew actively at the root surface and colonized a number of epidermal and cortical cells, inducing marked host cell metabolic changes. In roots inoculated with pathogenic F. oxysporum f. sp. pisi, the pathogen multiplied abundantly through much of the tissues, whereas in Fo47-inoculated roots, fungal growth was restricted to the epidermis and the outer cortex. Invading cells of strain Fo47 suffered from serious alterations, a phenomenon that was not observed in control roots in which F. oxysporum f. sp. pisi grew so actively that the vascular stele was invaded within a few days. Strain Fo47 establishment in the root tissues resulted in a massive elaboration of hemispherical wall appositions and in the deposition of an electron-opaque material frequently encircling pathogen hyphae and accumulating in the noninfected xylem vessels. This suggests that the host roots were signaled to defend themselves through the rapid stimulation of a general cascade of nonspecific defense responses. The specific relationship established between strain Fo47 and the root tissues is discussed in relation to other types of plant-fungus interactions, including pathogenic and symbiotic associations.     

深色有隔内生真菌甘瓶霉对番茄抗枯萎病的作用

本文以深色有隔内生真菌(dark septate endophyte,DSE)甘瓶霉Phialophora mustea不同来源的2氧化酶的影响。研究表明,在尖孢镰刀菌胁迫下,与不接种DSE的对照相比,DSE接种可以显著缓解尖孢镰刀菌抑制番茄生长的症状,接种菌株K36和Z48后,植物株高分别增长了46.4%、53.2%,地上、地下部分干重分别增长了60.6%、50%和63.7%、65.9%,明显促进番茄生长和生物量的增加。进一步研究发现DSE接种显著激活番茄叶片SOD、POD等抗氧化酶活性进而降低尖孢镰刀菌导致的细胞脂质过氧化胁迫,发现在尖孢镰刀菌胁迫下,与不接种DSE的对照相比,接种菌株K36和Z48后番茄叶片SOD的酶活性分别增加19.3%和8.1%,POD的酶活性分别增加14.0%和4.4%,而MDA含量则显著减少了22.3%和9.1%。DSE接种增强了植物抗氧化酶活性,缓解由尖孢镰刀菌导致的脂膜过氧化胁迫,从而提高植物对真菌病害的抗性,促进宿主植物生长。     

Pathogenicity of fungi associated with winter loss and injury in white lupin

Fungi isolated from diseased white lupin plants were tested for pathogenicity in standardized glasshouse tests to assess their potential as causes of plant death in winter in autumn-sown crops. Pleiochaeta setosa and, to a slightly lesser extent, Fusarium avenaceum caused lesions or plant death when inoculated onto hypocotyls of lupin seedlings. Disease was more severe when the hypocotyls were wounded before inoculation. F. avenaceum also caused injury when inoculated onto roots; wounding the roots had no effect. Some isolates of F. solani also caused injury, especially after root inoculation, but isolates of F. oxysporum and Cylindrocarpon destructans were only slightly or non-pathogenic. Isolates of Fusarium and C. destructans , but not of P. setosa , differed in pathogenicity. There were differences in susceptibility to disease among three lupin cultivars.     

丛枝菌根真菌对接种尖孢镰刀菌后黄瓜 根系次生代谢物的影响

采用灌根法对4周龄的黄瓜幼苗接种尖孢镰刀菌Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.cucumerinum,研究了不同取样时期AM真菌Glomus versiforme对植株根系黄酮和总酚含量及叶片中POD和PPO酶活性的影响.结果表明:菌根化植株可通过生物量的补偿和体内次生代谢物含量的改变来提高抗病性.即接种F.oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum的第9天,菌根化植株根系和地上部生物量分别比对照高出50%和31.7%,此时,对照发病率达15%,而菌根化植株生长始终正常;在病原菌的侵入初期和后期,菌根化植株根系中黄酮和总酚含量高于对照;在植株发病期,菌根化植株仍可通过根系中含量相对较低的黄酮和总酚来抵御病原菌的侵害;与对照相比,抗病性较强的菌根化植株叶片中POD酶活性变化较为缓和,且PPO酶活性一直较高.     

Fusarium confers protection against several mycelial pathogens of pepper plants

Inoculation of nonhost pepper ( Capsicum annuum ) plants with the tomato wilt pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici (FOL), caused no symptoms and the fungus was not recovered from any part of the plant. FOL, however, partially protected pepper plants from subsequent infection with Phytophthora capsici , Verticillium dahliae or Botrytis cinerea by significantly reducing the percentage of diseased plants and the appearance and intensity of symptoms. FOL did not inhibit the mycelial growth of these pathogens in vitro . The protection induced by FOL against Botrytis was inhibited by 1-methylcyclopropene (MCP), an inhibitor of ethylene perception, suggesting the involvement of this hormone in the signalling of FOL-induced resistance. The activities of β-1,3-glucanase and peroxidase 48 h after FOL induction were similar to those in control plants. Chitinase activity, however, was higher in the stems of plants inoculated with FOL. A study of the levels of phenolic compounds revealed that cell-wall-bound phenolics were more abundant in plants treated with FOL, especially in stems, while soluble phenolic contents did not differ.     

Biological control of fusarium crown and root rot of tomato with antagonistic bacteria and integrated control when combined with the fungicide carbendazim

Two bacterial isolates, Bacillus megaterium (c96) and Burkholderia cepacia (c91), demonstrated to be antagonistic against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. radicis-lycopersici , the causal organism of fusarium crown and root rot of tomato, were evaluated as biocontrol agents alone and when integrated with the fungicide carbendazim. In an initial screening, these isolates reduced disease incidence by 75 and 88%, respectively. In vitro , both biocontrol agents were highly tolerant to the fungicide carbendazim, commonly used to control fusarium diseases. Carbendazim reduced disease symptoms by over 50% when used at > 50  µ g mL⁻¹, but had little effect at lower concentrations. Combination of the bacterial isolates and carbendazim gave significant ( P  ≤ 0·05) control of the disease when plants were artificially inoculated with the pathogen. Application of carbendazim at a low concentration (1  µ g mL⁻¹) in combination with B. cepacia c91 reduced disease symptoms by 46%, compared with a reduction of 20% obtained with the bacterium alone and no control with the chemical treatment alone. A combination of B. megaterium c96 with an increased application rate of 10  µ g mL⁻¹ carbendazim significantly reduced disease symptoms by 84% compared with inoculated controls and by 77% compared with carbendazim treatment alone. In this experiment, the integrated treatment also slightly outperformed application of 100  µ g mL⁻¹ carbendazim, and bacteria applied without fungicide also provided good disease control.     

Activation of Defense Responses to Fusarium Infection in Asparagus densiflorus

Defense responses to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. asparagi and F. proliferatum were compared after root inoculation of the asparagus fern, Asparagus densiflorus vars. Myersii and Sprengeri, and cultivated asparagus, A. officinalis cv. Guelph Millennium. Both varieties of A. densiflorus exhibited a hypersensitive response with rapid death of epidermal cells within 8–24 h and restricted the fungal growth. In A. officinalis roots, rapid cell death was not found, and necrotic lesions were observed 8–14 d after fungal inoculation. Peroxidase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activities increased significantly in inoculated A. densiflorus but not A. officinalis plants. Local and systemic induction of peroxidase activity was detected after pathogen inoculation in root and spear tissues, respectively, of A. densiflorus. POX activity decreased in roots of inoculated A. officinalis by 8 d post-inoculation. Germination and germ tube growth were inhibited when spores of F. oxysporum f. sp. asparagi were incubated in root exudates and on root segment surfaces of inoculated A. densiflorus plants exhibiting hypersensitive cell death. Spore germination of F. proliferatum and three fungi non-pathogenic to cultivated asparagus was inhibited as well. Rapid induction of hypersensitive cell death in A. densiflorus was associated with restriction of fungal growth, and activation of peroxidase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, two defense enzymes thought to be important for plant disease resistance.     

Differential Colonization of Tomato Roots by Nonpathogenic and Pathogenic Fusarium oxysporum Strains May Influence Fusarium Wilt Control

ABSTRACT Histochemical staining, beta-glucuronidase (GUS) activity, or placing roots on agar were methods used to characterize interactions between the pathogenic fungus, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, and the nonpathogenic biocontrol F. oxysporum strain 70T01 with respect to colonization behaviors, interaction sites, and population densities on tomato roots. Mycelia of strain 70T01, a genetic transformant expressing stable GUS activity, hygromycin B resistance, and effective disease control, were localized in epidermal and cortex cell layers of tomato roots in a discontinuous and uneven pattern. In contrast, mycelia of F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici were found in the vascular bundles. Thus, direct interactions between the two fungi likely happen in the root surface cell layers. Colonization density of strain 70T01 was related to the inoculation density but decreased with distance from the inoculation site. Host defense reactions, including increased cell wall thickness or papilla deposits, were adjacent to 70T01 hyphae. Experiments done in soil showed that strain 70T01 densities in roots were highest at inoculation zones and barely detectable for root segments more than 2 cm away from the inoculation sites. F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici densities were lowest at 70T01 inoculation zones and highest (>10 times) where strain 70T01 was not directly applied. Newly elongating roots where strain 70T01 did not reach were available for infection by the pathogen. The higher strain 70T01 density was always found when the plants were simultaneously infected by F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, suggesting that F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici has as much influence in predisposing the plant to colonization by strain 70T01 as strain 70T01 has on providing disease protection against the pathogen.