Changes induced by Trichoderma harzianum in suppressive compost controlling Fusarium wilt

The addition of species of Trichoderma to compost is a widespread technique used to control different plant diseases. The biological control activity of these species is mainly attributable to a combination of several mechanisms of action, which may affect the microbiota involved in the suppressiveness of compost. This study was therefore performed to determine the effect of inoculation of Trichoderma harzianum (T. harzianum) on compost, focusing on bacterial community structure (16S rRNA) and chitinase gene diversity. In addition, the ability of vineyard pruning waste compost, amended (GCTh) or not (GC) with T. harzianum, to suppress Fusarium wilt was evaluated. The addition of T. harzianum resulted in a high relative abundance of certain chitinolytic bacteria as well as in remarkable protection against Fusarium oxysporum comparable to that induced by compost GC. Moreover, variations in the abiotic characteristics of the media, such as pH, C, N and iron levels, were observed. Despite the lower diversity of chitinolytic bacteria found in GCTh, the high relative abundance of Streptomyces spp. may be involved in the suppressiveness of this growing media. The higher degree of compost suppressiveness achieved after the addition of T. harzianum may be due not only to its biocontrol ability, but also to changes promoted in both abiotic and biotic characteristics of the growing media.     

Predictive factors for the suppression of fusarium wilt of tomato in plant growth media

ABSTRACT Fusarium wilts are economically important diseases for which there are no effective chemical control measures. However, biological control and fertility management are becoming efficient alternatives for controlling this disease. Growth media formulated with composts that are able to suppress Fusarium wilt of tomato provide a control system that integrates both strategies. The aim of this study was to predict Fusarium wilt suppression of growth media using abiotic and biotic variables. Grape marc compost was the most effective medium used to suppress Fusarium wilt. Cork compost was intermediate, and light peat and expanded vermiculite were the most conducive growth media. The growth media evaluated were in a pH range of 6.26 to 7.97. Both composts had high beta-glucosidase activity. When pH and beta-glucosidase activity were taken into account as predictive variables, more than 91% of the variation in severity of Fusarium wilt was explained. This relationship illustrates the effect of nutrient availability and the degree of microbiostasis, two key factors in this pathosystem. Microbial populations involved in suppressiveness were cellulolytic and oligotrophic actinomycetes, fungi, and the ratios cellulolytic actinomycetes/cellulolytic bacteria, oligotrophic bacteria/copiotrophic bacteria, and oligotrophic actinomycetes/oligotrophic bacteria. Based on community level physiological profiles, different community structures were evident among growth media evaluated.     

The Elegans fusaria causing wilt disease of carnation. I. Taxonomy

The distinction of the wilt disease pathogen of carnationFusarium (oxysporum var.)redolens fromF. oxysporum (var.oxysporum) is considered. Previous reports that isolates of both taxa cause indistinguishable diseases in carnation are confirmed.F. (oxysporum var.)redolens andF. oxysporum were found to form one variable complex on morphological criteria. Apparently, host specialization rather than morphological variation reflects the evolutionary relationships in theFusarium sectionElegans. The distinction ofF. redolens fromF. oxysporum does therefore not seem justified, neither at specific nor at varietal level.Samenvatting Het onderscheid tussenFusarium (oxysporum var.)redolens enF. (oxysporum var.)oxysporum als verwekkers van verwelkingsziekte bij anjer wordt ter discussie gesteld. Fytopathologisch onderzoek bevestigde vermeldingen in de literatuur dat voor anjer pathogene isolaten van beide soorten ziekten veroorzaken die niet te onderscheiden zijn; dit is ook bekend voor andere gewassen. Op morfologische gronden blekenF. (oxysporum var.)redolens enF. oxysporum één variabel complex te vormen. Kennelijk geeft de pathogene specialisatie inFusarium sectieElegans de evolutionaire verwantschappen beter weer dan de morfologische variatie. Het onderscheiden vanF. redolens naastF. oxysporum is daarom noch als soort, noch als variëteit gerechtvaardigd.     

Suppression of fusarium wilt of radish by co-inoculation of fluorescentPseudomonas spp. and root-colonizing fungi

In an earlier study, treatment of radish seed with the bacteriumPseudomonas fluorescens WCS374 suppressed fusarium wilt of radish (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.raphani) in a commercial greenhouse [Leemanet al., 1991b, 1995a]. In this greenhouse, the areas with fusarium wilt were localized or expanded very slowly, possibly due to disease suppressiveness of the soil. To study this phenomenon, fungi were isolated from radish roots collected from the greenhouse soil. Roots grown from seed treated with WCS374 were more abundantly colonized by fungi than were roots from nonbacterized plants. Among these were several species known for their antagonistic potential. Three of these fungi,Acremonium rutilum, Fusarium oxysporum andVerticillium lecanii, were evaluated further and found to suppress fusarium wilt of radish in a pot bioassay. In an induced resistance bioassay on rockwool,F. oxysporum andV. lecanii suppressed the disease by the apparent induction of systemic disease resistance. In pot bioassays with thePseudomonas spp. strains, the pseudobactin-minus mutant 358PSB^– did not suppress fusarium wilt, whereas its wild type strain (WCS358) suppressed disease presumably by siderophore-mediated competition for iron. The wild type strains of WCS374 and WCS417, as well as their pseudobactin-minus mutants 374PSB^– and 417PSB^– suppressed fusarium wilt. The latter is best explained by the fact that these strains are able to induce systemic resistance in radish, which operates as an additional mode of action. Co-inoculation in pot bioassays, ofA. rutilum, F. oxysporum orV. lecanii with thePseudomonas spp. WCS358, WCS374 or WCS417, or their pseudobactin-minus mutants, significantly suppressed disease (except forA. rutilum/417PSB^– and all combinations with 358PSB^–), compared with the control treatment, if the microorganisms were applied in inoculum densities which were ineffective in suppressing disease as separate inocula. If one or both of the microorganism(s) of each combination were applied as separate inocula in a density which suppressed disease, no additional suppression of disease was observed by the combination. The advantage of the co-inoculation is that combined populations significantly suppressed disease even when their individual population density was too low to do so. This may provide more consistent biological control. The co-inoculation effect obtained in the pot bioassays suggests that co-operation ofP. fluorescens WCS374 and indigenous antagonists could have been involved in the suppression of fusarium wilt of radish in the commercial greenhouse trials.Abbreviations CFU colony forming units - KB King's B - PGPR plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria - CQ colonization quotient     

Host genotype- and temperature-dependent colonizationof In vitro carnation callus cultures byFusarium oxysporum f.sp.dianthi race 2

Differentin vivo resistance/susceptibility levels of 14 carnation cultivars toFusarium oxysporum f.sp.dianthi race 2, the causal agent of Fusarium wilt disease of carnation, were also expressed in anin vitro system and assayed as the degree of fungal colonization of callus cultures at 20° C. Temperature influenced thein vitro expression of carnation resistance. An incubation temperature of 27° C increased the colonization of calli derived from both the susceptible (‘Corrida’ and ‘Ambra’) and the resistant (‘Pulcino’ and ‘Pallas’) cultivars. At 15°C, the colonization of calli derived from Pulcino and Pallas diminished significantly more than for Ambra and Corrida. Inhibition of fungal growth on resistant calli was correlated to retardation in hyphal development. Both scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy observations showed that hyphae did not penetrate into carnation cells.     

Effect of antagonistic<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium</Emphasis> spp. and of different commercial biofungicide formulations on Fusarium wilt of lettuce

Five experimental trials were carried out to test different biological control agents against Fusarium wilt of lettuce, cause byFusarium oxysporum f.sp.lactucae. In the presence of a very high disease incidence, the best results in terms of disease control as well as increased growth response were shown byTrichoderma harzianum T 22 (RootShield), which, at 3 gl ⁻¹ of substrate, provided very consistent results.F. oxysporum IF 23 gave good disease control but in two out of five trials reduced the biomass produced. Less consistent, but still significant results were provided byF oxysporium MSA 25, at 3 gl ⁻¹ of substrate, and byTrichoderma viride TV 1. The twoF. oxysporum agents Fo 251/2 and Fo 47 and the mixture ofT. harzianum + T. viride (Remedier) partially reduced disease incidence but were less effective than the above mentioned. Less interesting results were offered byStreptomyces griseoviridis (Mycostop). The results obtained show that biological control can play a role in the management of Fusarium wilt of lettuce.     

Suppression of Fusarium wilt of spinach with compost amendments

The effect of different organic composts on the suppression of wilt disease of spinach caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. spinaciae was evaluated in a continuous cropping system in both containers and in microplot field trials. Test soils infested with the pathogen were amended with wheatbran, wheatbran and sawdust, coffee grounds, chicken manure, or mixture of different composts with and without 5% (w/w) crab shell powder either once (5%, w/w) or continuously (2.5%) into the test soils infested with the pathogen. In the container trials, the soil amended with composts became suppressive to disease development on the second and third cropping. The suppressive effect was notable in the soil amended with the mixture of compost with and without crab shell powder. The coffee compost lowered soil pH but became suppressive to the disease after modifying the soil pH. In the field trial using the mixture of the different composts containing 5% crab shell powder, a combination of 5% before the first cropping and 2.5% every second cropping gave stable disease control and promoted plant growth. After compost amendment, populations of fungi, bacteria and actinomycetes as measured by dilution plate counting and the total microbial activity as evaluated by fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis increased and population of the pathogen gradually decreased. These phenomena were especially notable in soils amended with the mixture of different composts. These results indicate that diversity in the organic materials promotes higher microbial activity and population in the soil thereby enhancing disease suppressiveness.     

Siderophore-mediated competition for iron and induced resistance in the suppression of fusarium wilt of carnation by fluorescent Pseudomonas spp

The mechanisms of suppression of fusarium wilt of carnation by two fluorescentPseudomonas strains were studied.Treatments of carnation roots withPseudomonas sp. WCS417r significantly reduced fusarium wilt caused byFusarium oxysporum f. sp.dianthi (Fod). Mutants of WCS417r defective in siderophore biosynthesis (sid^–) were less effective in disease suppression compared with their wild-type. Treatments of carnation roots withPseudomonas putida WCS358r tended to reduce fusarium wilt, whereas a sid^– mutant of WCS358 did not.Inhibition of conidial germination of Fod in vitro by purified siderophores (pseudobactins) of bothPseudomonas strains was based on competition for iron. The ferrated pseudobactins inhibited germination significantly less than the unferrated pseudobactins. Inhibition of mycelial growth of Fod by bothPseudomonas strains on agar plates was also based on competition for iron: with increasing iron content of the medium, inhibition of Fod by thePseudomonas strains decreased. The sid^– mutant of WCS358 did not inhibit Fod on agar plates, whereas the sid^– mutants of WCS417r still did. This suggests that inhibition of Fod by WCS358r in vitro was only based on siderophore-mediated competition for iron, whereas also a non-siderophore antifungal factor was involved in the inhibition of Fod by strain WCS417r.The ability of thePseudomonas strains to induce resistance against Fod in carnation grown in soil was studied by spatially separating the bacteria (on the roots) and the pathogen (in the stem). Both WCS417r and its sid^– mutant reduced disease incidence significantly in the moderately resistant carnation cultivar Pallas, WCS358r did not.It is concluded that the effective and consistent suppression of fusarium wilt of carnation by strain WCS417r involves multiple mechanisms: induced resistance, siderophore-mediated competition for iron and possibly antibiosis. The less effective suppression of fusarium wilt by WCS358r only depends on siderophore-mediated competition for iron.     

Benomyl-resistant Fusarium-isolates in ecological studies on the biological control of fusarium wilt in carnation

Ecological properties and stability of benomyl resistance of three benomyl-resistant mutants of nonpathogenicFusarium-isolates antagonistic to fusarium wilt in carnation, and three benomyl-resistant mutants of a pathogenic isolate ofFusarium oxysporum f.sp.dianthi were evaluatedin vitro and in glasshouse experiments. The benomyl resistance of the nonpathogenic mutants was stable under all conditions tested, also after a 1000-fold increase of the population in sterilized soil. Mutants of the pathogen were stable during allin vitro tests, but after proliferation in carnation stems only part of the population was benomyl resistant.Compared to the wild type, mutants of the pathogen were less pathogenic, also if thein vitro propeties were similar. Colonization of carnation by benomyl-resistant nonpathogenicFusarium in the presence of the pathogen showed that the antagonistic effect correlated with the presence of the nonpathogenic isolates within the carnation stem. The wild types and two of the mutant nonpathogenicFusarium-isolates controlled fusarium wilt in the susceptible cultivar Lena for 50% or more.UV-induced benomyl resistance appeared to be a valuable marker to distinguish between differentFusarium isolates and to study the population dynamics, but intensive screening of the mutants is a prerequisite since alterations in antagonism and pathogenicity can occur.     

The elegans fusaria causing wilt disease of carnation. II. Distinction of vegetative compatibility groups

The vegetative compatibility patterns among isolates ofElegans fusaria causing wilt disease of carnation were investigated. Nitrate non-utilizing mutants were generated from 16 isolates labelledF. redolens, nine of which came from carnation, and from 33 isolates labelledF. oxysporum, 19 of which came from carnation. Pairings of the mutants revealed five vegetative compatibility groups among the isolates from carnation, corresponding withF. oxysporum f.sp.dianthi race 1 (VCG1), race 2 (VCG2) and race 4 (VCG3),F. redolens f.sp.dianthi (VCG4) andF. redolens isolates from foot rot-diseased carnations (VCG5). Besides three isolates typical ofF. redolens, VCG4 comprised a now slightly deviating subculture of the type isolate ofF. redolens f.sp.dianthi of which the cultural characteristics correspond toF. oxysporum instead ofF. redolens. This observation may be taken to support previous conclusions that the distinction between both taxa is not justified. Otherwise, the compatibility patterns did not provide decisive evidence to accept or reject conspecificity of both taxa. Isolates from carnation did not form heterokaryons with other formae speciales ofF. oxysporum.Samenvatting De vegetatieve compatibiliteitspatronen bij isolaten vanElegans-fusaria die verwelkingsziekte bij anjer veroorzaken werden onderzocht. Van 16 isolaten vanF. redolens, waarvan negen afkomstig van anjers, en van 33 isolaten vanF. oxysporum, waarvan 19 afkomstig van anjers, werden mutanten gegenereerd die zonder een organische stikstofbron geen luchtmycelium meer konden vormen. Paringen tussen mutanten van isolaten afkomstig van anjers brachten een vijftal vegetatieve compatibiliteitsgroepen aan het licht, die overeenkwamen metF. oxysporum f.sp.dianthi fysio 1 (VCG 1), fysio 2 (VCG 2) en fysio 4 (VCG3),F. redolens f.sp.dianthi (VCG4) enF. redolens isolaten afkomstig van aan voetrot lijdende anjers (VCG5). Naast drie voorF. redolens karakteristieke isolaten omvatte VCG4 ook een afwijkende subculture van het type-isolaat vanF. redolens f.sp.dianthi, die in cultuureigenschappen overeen kwam metF. oxysporum in plaats vanF. redolens. Deze waarneming geeft enige steun aan eerdere conclusies dat het onderscheid tussen beide taxa niet gerechtvaardigd is. Daarbuiten gaven de compatibiliteitspatronen geen uitsluitsel over de mogelijke conspecificiteit van beide taxa. Isolaten afkomstig van anjers vormden geen heterokaryons met andere formae speciales vanF. oxysporum.     

大豆枯萎病菌尖孢镰孢遗传多样性及大豆品种抗性

 了解大豆枯萎病菌的群体遗传特征及明确大豆种质对大豆枯萎病的抗性,对抗病育种、抗性品种的合理布局以及制定更有效的病害防治策略具有重要的参考价值。本研究利用随机扩增多态性DNA(random amplified polymorphic DNA,RAPD),对采自我国不同地区的大豆枯萎病菌—尖孢镰孢菌(Fusarium oxysporum)进行遗传多样性分析,筛选到10个多态性随机引物,共扩增出75条RAPD条带,其中55条为多态性条带,占73.3%。利用UPGMA法对DNA扩增图谱进行聚类分析,以相似系数0.68为阈值,55个分离物可分为9个遗传聚类组,表明我国大豆枯萎病菌具有丰富的种内遗传多样性,所划分的群体与分离物来源地不相关。同时,对上述分离物进行致病性分析,发现我国的大豆枯萎病菌具有明显的致病力分化现象。进一步利用3个代表性分离物对来自我国不同大豆产区的180个大豆品种(资源)进行抗大豆枯萎病鉴定,发现皖豆28、中黄13、中黄51、中作X08076和5D034等5个品种对大豆枯萎病具有良好抗性,占供试材料的2.8%,表明不同大豆品种对枯萎病的抗性存在一定的差异。     

Effect of different organic amendments on lettuce fusarium wilt and on selected soilborne microorganisms

This study evaluated the effect of different organic amendments on lettuce fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae in pots under controlled conditions. Their effects on the density of the pathogen, on the total fungi and on fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. were also evaluated after two subsequent lettuce crops. A significant reduction in the severity of the symptoms of F. oxysporum f. sp. lactucae was found after the use of Brassica carinata pellets (52–79% reduction) and compost (49–67% reduction), while Brassica green manure and cattle and chicken manure only provided partial control of fusarium wilt. However, variations in effectiveness were observed for the same treatment in repeated trials. In general, an increase was observed in Pseudomonas and a decrease in fungal populations in the growing medium, which was obtained by mixing a blonde sphagnum peat and a sandy loam soil with B. carinata pellets and compost after two consecutive cropping cycles. Prolonging the Brassica and compost treatments from 30 to 60 days did not significantly affect disease severity, plant growth or the microbial population of the total fungi or Pseudomonas. The largest lettuce biomass was obtained in the non‐inoculated growing medium amended with brassica flour, chicken manure, B. carinata pellets and compost, as a consequence of fertilization. The treatment with B. juncea green manure, B. carinata (pellets and flour) and compost applied 30 days before planting led to promising results and merits further investigation for use under field conditions.     

Bacillus subtilis as an alternative biologically based strategy for controlling Fusarium wilt disease in tomato: A histological study

The employment of formulateBacillus subtilis as a biocontrol agent successfully controlledFusarium oxysporum f.sp.lycopersici within tomato seedlings (in vivo). B. subtilis was able to proted cortex and vascular tissues of tomato against progression of the wilt pathogen. No changes were observed in tomato tissues due to application ofB. subtilis except for hypertrophy and elongation of cortex tissues, which indicates the production of plant growth hormones byB. subtilis.     

Role of organic acids in the mechanisms of biological soil disinfestation (BSD)

Biological soil disinfestation (BSD), or reductive soil disinfestation, achieved by amendment with organic materials such as wheat bran followed by flooding and covering the soil surface, has been used to control some soilborne diseases including Fusarium wilt and bacterial wilt of tomato. During a BSD treatment, accumulation of acetic acid and/or butyric acid was detected with high-performance liquid chromatography. Survival of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici or Ralstonia solanacearum was suppressed by these organic acids. Amendment of these organic acids into soil suppressed the survival of R. solanacearum at lower concentrations than the maximum detected in BSD treatment, indicating that production of these organic acids is one of the mechanisms of control. However, F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici in soil survived with the maximum concentrations of these organic acids achieved by BSD; thus, involvement of factors other than organic acids may be involved.     

Fusarium wilt on sweet basil: Cause and sources in southeastern Spain

This study concerned a new disease detected in 1997 in southeastern Spain — Fusarium wilt in basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), caused byFusarium oxysporum f.sp.basilici. Its importance was evaluated at two locations in the Almería area, where 14% of the plants presented symptoms of the disease after 4 months of cropping. The search for sources of the disease inoculum was centered on the health of the seeds and the polypropylene trays that were reused for plant production. Analysis of four lots of seeds from Germany and Italy showed that two of them harboredF. oxysporum f.sp.basilici. This finding was confirmed by the analysis of seeds collected from diseased plants. Furthermore, analysis of three reused trays revealed the presence of the pathogen on them and it was concluded that the trays acted as the source of dispersion of the mycosis. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting July 14, 2004.     

Comparative effect of root-knot nematode on severity of verticillium and fusarium wilt in cotton

The effect of root-knot nematode (RKN) (Meloidogyne incognita) onVerticillium dahliae andFusarium oxysporum f.sp.vasinfectum in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) was investigated. Two different inoculation methods were used, one in which inoculum was added to the soil, so that nematode and fungal inoculum were in close proximity; the other, inoculation into the stem, whereby the two inocula were spatially separated. Invasion of the roots by RKN enhanced disease severity, as measured by the height of vascular browning in the stem, following inoculation with either wilt pathogen. The effect of RKN on Fusarium wilt was more pronounced than that on Verticillium wilt. Nematode-enhanced infection byF. oxysporum is a well known effect but there are few reports of enhanced infection byVerticillium due to RKN. Relative resistance of a number of cotton cultivars to both wilt diseases, as measured by height of vascular browning, was similar to the known field performance of the cultivars. The use of vascular browning as an estimate of disease severity was therefore validated. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Feb. 3, 2003.     

Passive transport of microconidia of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. dianthi in carnation after root inoculation

Root inoculation of susceptible carnations withFusarium oxysporum f. sp.dianthi induced characteristic unilateral wilt only if root woundings and use of a microconidial suspension had not been combined at the time of inoculation. The combination, however, induced atypical and sudden stem breaking soon followed by death. In all cases wilt was due to destruction of the xylem. Unilateral wilt appeared to follow sparse natural infection of single roots. Stem breaking was due to destruction of the vascular tissues all around the stem and is ascribed to multilateral infection caused by translocation of microconidia at inoculation through several wounded roots directly into the stem.Microconidia were carried passively 5–10(–10) cm into stems of susceptible and resistant carnations within 24 h both after immersing cut ends of the roots in a conidial suspension and after pouring a suspension on the soil. Passive spore transport is an inoculation artefact which may severely affect interpretation of experimental results; it seems to be unimportant in natural Fusarium wilt development in carnation.Samenvatting Inoculatie van de wortels van vatbare anjers metFusarium oxysporum f. sp.dianthi veroorzaakte de kenmerkende eenzijdige verwelking alleen als wortelbeschadigingen bij de inoculatie niet werden gecombineerd met het gebruik van een suspensie van microconidiën. Die combinatie veroorzaakte namelijk afwijkende symptomen waarbij de planten plotseling omknakten en vervolgens snel afstierven. De verwelking leek in alle gevallen veroorzaakt te worden door afbraak van het xyleem. Eenzijdige verwelking leek te volgen op spaarzame natuurlijke wortelinfecties. Bij omgeknakte planten bleek het vaatweefsel rondom in de stengel aangetast te zijn, hetgeen toegeschreven wordt aan infectie van verschillende kanten van de stengel als gevolg van passief transport van microconidiën bij de inoculatie door verscheidene beschadigde wortels direct de stengel in.Microconidiën werden binnen 24 uur 5–10(–30) cm de stengels van vatbare en resistente anjers ingezogen wanneer de wortels afgesneden en met het uiteinde in een sporensuspensie gehangen werden, maar ook wanneer de suspensie op de grond gegoten werd. Passief transport van sporen is een inoculatie-artefact dat echter belangrijke consequenties kan hebben voor de interpretatie van de resultaten van proeven. Bij de natuurlijke verspreiding vanF. oxysporum in anjers lijkt passief sporentransport van weinig belang.     

Fusarium wilt of basil in Greece: Foliar infection and cultivar evaluation for resistance

Fusarium wilt of basil (Ocimum basilicum), caused byFusarium oxysporum f.sp.basilici, is reported for the first time in Greece. Foliage inoculation of young plants resulted in a downward movement of the pathogen to the crown and roots and 20–30% plant mortality. Of 14 commercial basil cultivars evaluated for possible disease resistance using young plants, six out of eight large-leaved cultivars were found resistant, while all six small-leaved ones were susceptible. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Feb. 23, 2004.     

Lipopolysaccharides of plant-growth promoting Pseudomonas sp. strain WCS417r induce resistance in carnation to Fusarium wilt

The numbers of diseased plants could significantly be reduced when microconidia ofFusarium oxysporum f. sp.dianthi were inoculated into the stem and viable-, heat-killed cells or purified LPS of the bacteriumPseudomonas sp. strain WCS417r were applied to the roots. Because the competition betweenF. o. dianthi and the bacterium could be excluded, the disease suppression seems to be due to an induced resistance. Accumulation of phytoalexins was found in the stem segments. No accumulation of these compounds was found when the plants were bacterized but noninfected. It is concluded that cell surface components present in the lipopolysaccharides of the bacterium are the inducing factors.Increased peroxidase activity could be measured in root washes and root extracts after only bacterial preparations were added. No significant differences in peroxidase activity were found in stem extracts. The possible role of increased peroxidase activity in suppression of Fusarium wilt in carnation is discussed.