Performance of the Pseudomonas chlororaphis biocontrol agent MA 342 against cereal seed-borne diseases in field experiments

The bacterial biocontrol agent Pseudomonas chlororaphis, strain MA 342, was tested for activity against a number of cereal seed-borne diseases in a total of 105 field experiments carried out at different locations in Sweden during the years 1991-1996. Bacterial liquid culture was directly applied to pathogen-infested seeds of barley, oats, wheat and rye without additives. The seeds were then dried and sown in field together with fungicide-treated and untreated seeds used as controls. The bacterization controlled seed-borne diseases caused by Drechslera (Pyrenophora) graminea, D. teres, D. avenae, Ustilago avenae, U. hordei, and Tilletia caries, as effectively as guazatine + imazalil, and these effects were consistent over the years and over varying climatic zones. Diseases caused by pathogens like U. nuda, soil-borne T. caries and T. contraversa were not controlled and the bacterization gave less than full effect against diseases caused by Microdochium (Fusarium) nivale, and Bipolaris sorokiniana (Cochliobolus sativus). Bacterized seeds could be stored dry for at least two years without losing the disease suppressing effect of the bacterial treatment, when tested in the field.     

Suppression of wheat-seedling diseases caused by Fusarium culmorum and Microdochium nivale using bacterial seed treatment

Snow mould, caused by Microdochium nivale , and seedling blight caused by members of the Fusarium complex, are cereal diseases of great economic importance in many temperate zones. In a glasshouse bioassay designed to enhance disease, about 600 plant-associated bacterial isolates obtained by different methods were screened for suppressive effects in wheat against infection caused by Fusarium culmorum . Although most of the isolates tested had a neutral effect on test plants and disease development, a few were synergistic to the pathogen and about one-fifth showed > 80% disease suppression. During five consecutive growing seasons, 164 bacterial isolates were tested in field experiments against both F. culmorum and M. nivale as causal agents of seedling blight. Tests for effects on yield in experiments with spring and winter wheat, performed in different climatic regions of Sweden, showed that disease-suppressive effects were repeatable. The most efficient isolates, three fluorescent pseudomonads and a species of Pantoea , suppressed disease equal to that of the fungicide guazatine, both with respect to crop stand and yield. Seed treatment with Pantoea sp. (isolate MF 626) increased yield by an average of more than 500 kg ha⁻¹ in six field experiments.     

Rhizobacteria‐mediated resistance against the blackeye cowpea mosaic strain of bean common mosaic virus in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata)

BACKGROUND: The present study investigated the effect of seven Bacillus‐species plant‐growth‐promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) seed treatments on the induction of disease resistance in cowpea against mosaic disease caused by the blackeye cowpea mosaic strain of bean common mosaic virus (BCMV). RESULTS: Initially, although all PGPR strains recorded significant enhancement of seed germination and seedling vigour, GBO3 and T4 strains were very promising. In general, all strains gave reduced BCMV incidence compared with the non‐bacterised control, both under screen‐house and under field conditions. Cowpea seeds treated with Bacillus pumilus (T4) and Bacillus subtilis (GBO3) strains offered protection of 42 and 41% against BCMV under screen‐house conditions. Under field conditions, strain GBO3 offered 34% protection against BCMV. The protection offered by PGPR strains against BCMV was evaluated by indirect enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), with lowest immunoreactive values recorded in cowpea seeds treated with strains GBO3 and T4 in comparison with the non‐bacterised control. In addition, it was observed that strain combination worked better in inducing resistance than individual strains. Cowpea seeds treated with a combination of strains GBO3 + T4 registered the highest protection against BCMV. CONCLUSION: PGPR strains were effective in protecting cowpea plants against BCMV under both screen‐house and field conditions by inducing resistance against the virus. Thus, it is proposed that PGPR strains, particularly GBO3, could be potential inducers against BCMV and growth enhancers in cowpea. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Evidence for differential host preference in Microdochium nivale var. majus and Microdochiumnivale var. nivale

The pathogenicity of Microdochium nivale var. majus and var. nivale was tested on wheat, rye and oat seedlings using both visual disease scoring and quantitative PCR measurements. In an individual inoculation trial at 10°C var. majus and var. nivale were strongly pathogenic towards wheat and rye, with var. nivale causing slightly greater disease in rye. At this temperature only var. nivale caused significant disease of oats. In a further experiment M. nivale was inoculated as a series of mixtures of the two varieties and incubated at 15°C. The ratio of the varieties present in the inoculum and present at harvest was analysed by quantitative PCR and this enabled a coefficient of selection to be calculated for the varieties on each host. M. nivale var. majus showed a weak selective advantage over var. nivale on wheat (0.33 ± 0.08) and oat seedlings (0.35 ± 0.016) and M. nivale var. nivale showed a strong selective advantage over var. majus on rye seedlings (0.92 ± 0.26). The isolates were also compared for sensitivity to benzoxazolinone (BOA), a hydroxamic acid compound derived from rye leaves. M. nivale var majus was found to be significantly more sensitive to BOA than M. nivale var. nivale , indicating a possible mechanism for the selective advantage of var. nivale growing on rye. This is the first substantiated indication of a significant difference in host preference between Microdochium nivale var. majus and var. nivale .     

Visual disease and PCR assessment of stem base diseases in winter wheat

Stem base disease (eyespot, sharp eyespot and brown foot rot) was assessed visually and by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique on single plants sampled at four-week intervals in two crops of winter wheat grown in the UK in 1992–3. PCR assays were conducted for Fusarium avenaceum , F. culmorum , both varieties of Microdochium nivale , both eyespot-causing species of Tapesia and Rhizoctonia cerealis . PCR diagnoses were compared with visual diagnoses at each time point. Eyespot was caused principally by T. acuformis (R-type) and developed rapidly late in the season. Visual diagnoses of eyespot were largely confirmed by PCR but T. acuformis was detected in many plants lacking eyespot symptoms. R. cerealis was detected at relatively low incidences on both sites, and sharp eyespot visual diagnoses did not correlate with the incidence of any of the pathogens assayed by PCR. Brown foot rot, caused principally by Microdochium nivale var . majus , accumulated earlier in the season than eyespot. Overall, visual diagnoses of stem base disease coincided poorly with PCR data until after growth stage (GS) 30.     

香蕉枯萎病拮抗菌贝莱斯芽胞杆菌的筛选鉴定及其生物学特性

香蕉枯萎病是目前香蕉产业面临的毁灭性病害，目前尚无特别有效的防治药剂。为发掘香蕉枯萎病的生防菌资源，本研究通过初筛和复筛获得两株对香蕉枯萎病菌具有较强拮抗活性的菌株Blz67和Blz02。依据形态学观察及生理生化测试结果，并结合16S rRNA和gyrA基因序列分析，将两株拮抗菌鉴定为贝莱斯芽胞杆菌Bacillus velezensis。生物学特性测试结果表明:两株拮抗菌的最适生长温度均为31℃，最适生长pH均为5.5。盆栽试验结果表明，菌株Blz02与Blz67对香蕉枯萎病的防效分别为63.33%和40.00%，在香蕉枯萎病的生物防治上具有较好的应用前景。     

Towards the Development of a Novel In Vitro Strategy for Early Screening of Fusarium Ear Blight Resistance in Adult Winter Wheat Plants

A novel in vitro bioassay is described for screening Fusarium ear blight (FEB) resistance in adult winter wheat plants. Seven winter wheat cultivars were assessed for components of partial disease resistance as 28 day-old detached leaf segments in the laboratory using isolates of Microdochium nivale var. nivale and M. nivale var. majus. Results were compared with disease data obtained at anthesis using the same cultivars as whole plants and the same isolates under glasshouse conditions. Significant cultivar differences were observed using detached leaves, with cv. Avalon (a Fusarium culmorum ear susceptible cultivar) having the shortest leaf incubation period, greatest leaf lesion development and shortest leaf latent period compared to cv. Spark (a Fusarium culmorum ear resistant cultivar), which had the longest leaf incubation period, least leaf lesion development and longest leaf latent period. Using whole plants, cv. Avalon had the shortest ear incubation period and greatest ear disease severity, whilst cv. Spark had the longest incubation period and least ear disease severity. Overall, cultivars of intermediate F. culmorum ear resistance expressed intermediate responses to M. nivale isolates, using both detached leaves and whole plants. Significant correlations were found with ear disease severity and ear incubation period in whole plants and components of partial disease resistance in detached leaves, with significant correlations obtained between leaf incubation period and ear disease parameters using the M. nivale var. nivale isolate. In addition, leaf latent period and leaf lesion size showed significant correlations with whole plant reactions using M. nivale var. nivale and var. majus isolates. The in vitro screening of cultivars as detached leaves using M. nivale isolates may offer a real possibility of a rapid bioassay for the early screening of FEB resistance in wheat and other cereals.     

The use of species-specific PCR-based assays to analyse Fusarium ear blight of wheat

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for the detection of various Fusarium species and Microdochium nivale subspecies were compared with conventional visual disease assessment using a field plot of wheat in which the central subplot was inoculated with F. culmorum . Visual disease assessment was performed on a range of samples taken from each of 15 subplots at growth stage 80. At harvest, each sample was divided into its component parts, i.e. grain, glume and rachis, and species-specific PCR analysis was used to detect the presence of F. culmorum , F. poae , F. avenaceum , F. graminearum , M. nivale var. majus and M. nivale var. nivale . Within the inoculated subplot there was good correlation between visual disease assessment and PCR analysis, both techniques indicating a high incidence of F. culmorum in this region. According to the visual disease assessment results, there was also a relatively high incidence of F. culmorum in most other regions of the field plot. However, according to PCR analysis the incidence of F. culmorum in many of the other subplots was relatively low and F. poae , M. nivale var. majus and var. nivale , and F. avenaceum were detected within the grain, glume and rachis tissues of many of the ear samples from these subplots. F. poae predominated in the glume component of ears and M. nivale var. majus and var. nivale in the rachis component. M. nivale PCR results revealed that 64% of infected samples involved var. majus , and 36% var. nivale . PCR analysis has highlighted some difficulties that may arise when using visual assessment for studying disease complexes.     

葡萄霜霉病生防菌甲基营养型芽胞杆菌T3的鉴定及其防治效果

为了获得对葡萄霜霉病具有拮抗效果的生防菌株,本研究通过平板稀释法从葡萄园土壤中分离细菌,采用离体叶片混合点样法筛选拮抗菌,并进行了田间防效试验。根据菌株的形态学及16S rDNA序列分析对其进行鉴定,并检测了菌株T3的代谢产物。在分离获得的31株细菌中,菌株T1-2和T3发酵液对葡萄霜霉病菌的室内抑制率与对照枯草芽胞杆菌CN181一致,均为100%;2次田间试验均表明,在7 d时,清水对照的病情指数增加值平均为44.3,菌株T3发酵液的病病情指数增加值平均为21.0,对葡萄霜霉病的相对防治效果为52.4%,与菌株CN181发酵液无显著差异。经鉴定,菌株T3为甲基营养型芽胞杆菌Bacillus methylotrophicus,且该菌株在代谢过程中可产生蛋白酶、纤维素酶和嗜铁素等抑菌物质。研究结果表明,菌株T3对葡萄霜霉病菌具有强烈的抑制作用,并对葡萄霜霉病具有较好的防治效果。     

Screening winter rye cultivars for snow mould (Microdochium nivale) resistance

The snow mould ( Microdochium nivale ) resistance of 13 winter rye cultivars was studied in field trials and in three different laboratory tests: snow mould chamber tests, enzymatic assay tests and leaf segment tests. On the basis of the results, it is suggested that both the field trials and the snow mould chamber tests describe more the general winterhardiness of plants involved in the survival of the crown tissue of plants during prolonged incubation under the snow cover, than the snow mould resistance. The results from the enzymatic assay and the leaf segment tests indicate that there are other, more specialized snow mould resistance mechanisms in the plant that act also at the single leaf level. At least some of these resistance reactions seem to be induced by the lytic enzymes secreted by M. nivale.     

Evaluation of type I fusarium head blight resistance of wheat using non-deoxynivalenol-producing fungi

A series of experiments was conducted to determine whether type I resistance (resistance to initial infection) to fusarium head blight (FHB) in wheat could be assessed using fungal species/isolates that do not produce deoxynivalenol (DON), a mycotoxin critical to the spread of Fusarium graminearum in the wheat spike. It was shown that, while the non-toxin-producing species Microdochium nivale and M. majus could infect following spray inoculation of wheat spikes, they were unable to spread within the spike following point inoculation. However, although these species might reveal type I resistance, they are not highly pathogenic towards wheat. A nivalenol (NIV)-producing isolate of F. graminearum caused high levels of disease following spray inoculation, but spread only very slowly within the spike and rarely induced bleaching above the point of inoculation. It is proposed that spray inoculation with an appropriate, aggressive, non-DON-producing FHB pathogen may be used to characterize type I resistance to complement point inoculation with a DON-producing isolate to assess type II resistance (resistance to spread within the spike).     

The Effects of Organomercury Seed Treatment on Barley Artificially Inoculated with Fusarium spp.1

Artificial field inoculation showed that in one year out of two, Fusarium roseum caused significant yield loss in barley grown from organomercury-treated seed. No significant yield loss occurred in either year as a result of inoculation with Fusarium nivale. Results from field, pot and blotter tests suggested that inoculation with F. nivale and sometimes F. roseum could at times be associated with increased vigour in barley. There was a fairly consistent trend particularly with F. nivale for this to occur to a greater extent in plants from untreated seed than in those from treated seed. Similarly, any reductions in vigour associated with inoculation with more pathogenic strains of either species occurred only, or to a greater extent, in plants from treated seed. There was some evidence of an increased capacity for regenerative root and shoot growth in barley plants damaged by Fusarium inoculation, and it is suggested that increased growth may be associated with increases in percentage dry weights of the shoot 8 but not 18 days after inoculation. In the absence of inoculation, the effect of seed treatment was to increase grain yields, though this was not clearly associated with the increases it sometimes caused in emergence and in 1000-grain weight.     

Selection of bacterial antagonists for the biological control of Rhizoctonia solani in oilseed rape (Brassica napus)

Spore-forming bacteria isolated from oilseed rape (OSR) roots were tested for biological control activity against Rhizoctonia solani damping-off of OSR, using a simple slurry coat formulation. From a total of 239 strains which were tested, Bacillus subtilis 205 was selected as the most promising biocontrol agent (BCA). A known isolate of B. subtilis (NCIMB 12376), which had previously shown activity against R. solani in cotton, was used as a standard comparison throughout. In an in vivo screening, pre-emergence damping-off disease control by B. subtilis 205 was excellent, with plant stands being almost as high as non-diseased controls. However, post-emergence survival was less good, although the surviving plants exhibited significantly reduced hypocotyl rot. Growth-room trials which assessed the effect of ambient temperature on the biological control efficacy of B. subtilis strains 12376 and 205 showed that isolate 205 was more effective at lower temperatures. Disease control by isolate 205 at 15°C/10°C (day/night) suggests that this bacterium could operate under autumn sowing field conditions. Further investigations also indicated that the addition of iron (III) to the BCA formulation may enhance disease control by both bacilli. The potential of bacterial BCAs for the control of seedling diseases is discussed.     

Viruses of the tobacco rattle virus group in Northern Italy: Their vectors and serological relationships

Four species ofTrichodorus have been found in northern Italy, viz.Trichodorus viruliferus, T. teres, T. nanus and an undescribed species. In seven cases tobacco rattle virus (TRV) was isolated from soil samples by means of bait seedlings and in three of these cases the vector was found to beT. viruliferus. The seven virus isolates reacted with an antiserum against a Dutch TRV isolate and were divided into two groups according to their reaction with this serum. One isolate from each group was subjected to a more detailed examination. Of these, one was found to be closely related to a Dutch isolate from gladiolus with notched leaf symptoms, while the other showed a distinct relationship to the pea early-browning virus found in Britain. One of the isolates proved to be more closely related to the Dutch TRV than is the Dutch gladiolus isolate.     

芝麻立枯病内生生防细菌的筛选

利用表面消毒涂布平板的方法从大田健康芝麻根内分离芝麻内生细菌399株。平板对峙试验结果显示,176株细菌对立枯丝核菌(Rhizoctonia solani)有不同程度的拮抗能力,其中编号为B16、b10、D31、e23、G10、I10的6个菌株在PDA平板上对于立枯丝核菌具有极强的抑制作用,对西瓜枯萎病菌、西瓜炭疽病菌、小麦全蚀病菌和油菜菌核病菌也表现出广谱的抑菌作用。利用胶体几丁质和胶体壳聚糖作为唯一碳源,测定了上述6株细菌产生几丁质酶和壳聚糖酶的能力,发现b10和G10具有产壳聚糖酶的能力,I10有产几丁质酶的能力。活体盆栽试验测定了上述6株细菌对芝麻立枯病的生防效果,结果显示测定的6株细菌均具有一定的防治效果,其中G10的生防效果最好,可达到52%。利用胶体壳聚糖作为唯一碳源的选择性培养基测定了G10菌株在芝麻根系内部的定殖动态,发现G10在芝麻根部可以长期定殖。     

Suppression of Dollar Spot by Hypovirulent Isolates of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa

ABSTRACT Selected hypovirulent isolates of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa were evaluated for efficacy in suppressing dollar spot of turfgrass under growth room and field conditions. Under growth room conditions, hypovirulent isolates Sh12B, Sh09B, or Sh08D of S. homoeocarpa caused 3.4 to 30.4% diseased turf in comparison to virulent isolates Sh48B and Sh14D, which caused 80.2 to 90.2% disease. In treatments that received both virulent and hypovirulent isolates, only hypovirulent isolate Sh12B significantly reduced disease as compared with the control with virulent isolates alone. In a field experiment in 1993 on swards of creeping bentgrass artificially inoculated with a virulent isolate of the pathogen, all treatments containing hypovirulent isolate Sh12B applied as a mycelial suspension, granular mix, or alginate pellets developed significantly less disease (6.3 to 20.8% diseased turf) compared with their respective formulation controls (23.8 to 31.2%). Suppression of dollar spot by treatment with mycelial suspensions of isolate Sh12B was evident up to 45 days postinoculation, and disease suppression was still significant 1 year after application when compared with the water control. Applications of hypovirulent isolate Sh09B did not reduce dollar spot in any treatments. Significant suppression of dollar spot by isolate Sh12B was also observed in the experiment conducted in 1994. In addition, suppression of dollar spot by hypovirulent isolate Sh12B was evaluated on swards with naturally occurring inoculum during 1994. Treatments with a mycelial suspension and alginate pellets of hypovirulent isolate Sh12B significantly reduced dollar spot compared with their respective formulation controls. With few exceptions, there was no statistical difference between treatments with hypovirulent isolate Sh12B and the fungicide chlorothalonil (Daconil 2787). Multiple applications of the hypovirulent isolate did not result in greater suppression of dollar spot as compared with a single application. The results indicate that hypovirulence has potential as an effective strategy for the management of dollar spot.     

Efficacy of the biocontrol agent <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichoderma harzianum</Emphasis> ITEM 3636 against peanut smut,an emergent disease caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thecaphora frezii</Emphasis>

In this work, a bioformulation containing Trichoderma harzianum strain ITEM 3636, an effective biocontrol agent against the peanut pathogen Fusarium solani, was evaluated for control of peanut smut, an emergent disease caused by Thecaphora frezii. The performance of the bioformulation was evaluated during seasons 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 in experimental fields with history of peanut smut. Inoculation with T. harzianum ITEM 3636 significantly reduced the severity of peanut smut during both seasons by 17% and 25%, respectively. This is the first report where a consistent decrease of peanut smut symptoms is achieved in field experiments using a potential biological control agent. The identity of the causal agent of peanut smut was confirmed by sequencing the D1/D2 DNA region. T. harzianum ITEM 3636 caused significant increases in grain weight/plant in both years. Peanut smut and brown root rot are diseases that cause severe economic losses. Both causal agents may be present in the soil and, depending on environmental factors, cause disease. The T. harzianun ITEM 3636 bioformulation has high potential for controlling both diseases. Thus, the application of a single bioformulation could protect the health of peanut plants against two high impact pathogens.     

木霉菌对黄瓜生理特性及立枯病防治效果的影响

黄瓜立枯病是由立枯丝核菌（Rizoctonia solani,简称Rs）侵染引起的苗期土传病害。本研究采用前期筛选获得的对黄瓜立枯病菌Rs具有较强拮抗作用的木霉菌,分别为棘孢木霉Trichoderma asperellum 437、哈茨木霉T.harzianum 670和752,通过盆栽试验和田间试验,测定对黄瓜幼苗的生长和生理特性、产量、品质以及立枯病防效的影响。结果显示：3株木霉菌均能显著促进黄瓜幼苗的生长,提高黄瓜幼苗的生理活性和保护性酶活性,对黄瓜立枯病的防效均在75%以上;木霉菌处理的黄瓜幼苗株高、茎粗、叶面积、根体积、全株鲜重、叶绿素含量、硝酸还原酶活性、根系活力、根系总吸收面积,以及抗逆性酶活性包括超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化物酶、过氧化氢酶、多酚氧化酶均显著高于对照。木霉与病原菌Rs共同处理的黄瓜幼苗,上述生长和生理生化指标均显著高于病原菌Rs单独处理。其中木霉670处理的黄瓜幼苗各项检测指标高于木霉437和752。此外,木霉菌处理的黄瓜单瓜重、产量、可溶性固形物含量、可溶性糖含量、Vc含量、可溶性蛋白含量均不同程度的增加。上述结果说明,本研究的3株木霉菌通过提高黄瓜幼苗生理特性和保护性酶活性,促进了幼苗生长,提高了对黄瓜立枯病的抗性,改善了黄瓜产量和品质。     

The contribution of ground-level inoculum of Fusarium culmorum to ear blight of winter wheat

In a series of field experiments in eastern England over 5 years, severe ear blight developed only in plots of winter wheat that were inoculated by spraying with conidial suspensions of Fusarium culmorum during anthesis, and in which infection was encouraged by rainfall or mist irrigation. In the absence of artificial inoculation of the ears, F. culmorum caused less extensive ear blight, and only where soil-surface inoculum was available after its application on infested plant material (colonized oat grains) up to 3–4 weeks before anthesis; it then developed most where significant rainfall occurred close to the time of anthesis. A warm, dry period following application of inoculum to the ground in late March contributed to increased infection of grain by F. culmorum , although ear blight was not increased. Ear infection therefore depended on adequate viable inoculum on infested plant debris within the crop, and conditions tending to favour brown foot rot development as well as, subsequently, rainfall and moist conditions during anthesis. These conditions did not occur together naturally during this period. Seedling infection by F. culmorum or Microdochium nivale made no significant contribution to ear blight. Inoculation of ears at anthesis with M. nivale or a locally obtained isolate of F. langsethiae did not produce ear blight symptoms. Possibilities for minimizing the availability of inoculum of F. culmorum and the implications for various options for ear-blight control are discussed.     

Proteinaceous Metabolites from Pyrenophora teres Contribute to Symptom Development of Barley Net Blotch

ABSTRACT Pyrenophora teres, the causal agent of net blotch of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), induces a combination of necrosis and extensive chlorosis in susceptible barley cultivars. Cell-free filtrates from both net and spot forms of P. teres; P. teres f. sp. teres, and P. teres f. sp. maculata were found to contain phytotoxic low molecular weight compounds (LMWCs) and proteinaceous metabolites which appear to be responsible for different components of the symptoms induced by the two forms of the pathogen in a susceptible cultivar of barley (cv. Sloop). Proteins induced only brown necrotic spots or lesions similar to those induced by the pathogens 72 h after inoculation. In contrast, LMWCs induced general chlorosis seen 240 h after inoculation but not the localized necrosis. Neither hydrolyzed or heat- or protease-treated proteinaceous metabolites induced the symptoms. This is the first report of the involvement of proteins produced by P. teres in symptom development during net blotch disease of barley.