Improving Control of Green and Blue Molds of Oranges by Combining Pantoea Agglomerans (CPA-2) and Sodium Bicarbonate

The potential of using Pantoea agglomerans (strain CPA-2) alone, or in combination with sodium bicarbonate or sodium carbonate solutions, for control of Penicillium digitatum (green mold) and Penicillium italicum (blue mold) on oranges was investigated under ambient (20 °C) and cold storage (3 °C) conditions. P. agglomerans controlled both pathogens on oranges at 2 × 10⁸ cfu ml^-1. The biocontrol agent was found to be completely tolerant to 2% sodium bicarbonate at room temperature, although its culturability was reduced by > 1000-fold after 30 min in 2% sodium carbonate. The efficacy of P. agglomerans for control of green mold was improved when combined with sodium bicarbonate, resulting in complete and 97.6% reduction of decay incidence at 3 °C and 20 °C, when compared to untreated controls. Satisfactory results were also obtained with the combined treatment for control of blue mold. P. agglomerans grew well inside wounds on oranges at both 20 °C and 3 °C. In contrast, it showed a reduced growth on the surface of intact fruit. Sodium bicarbonate at 2% concentration did not noticeably affect antagonist population development. Thus, use of bicarbonate treatment at 2% followed by the antagonist P. agglomerans CPA-2 could be an alternative to chemicals for control of postharvest diseases on oranges.     

Corynespora leaf spot of scarlet sage caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Corynespora cassiicola</Emphasis>

A leaf spot disease of scarlet sage (Salvia splendens Sellow ex J.A. Shultes) found in Kanagawa and Tokyo prefectures was demonstrated to be caused by Corynespora cassiicola (Berk. and Curt.) Wei based on inoculation experiments, and morphological identification of the pathogenic fungus. Isolates of C. cassiicola from cucumber, green pepper, and hydrangea were also pathogenic to scarlet sage leaves. Although the isolates from cucumber, green pepper, and hydrangea were pathogenic to scarlet sage leaves, the scarlet sage isolate was not pathogenic to cucumber, green pepper, hydrangea, eggplant, tomato or soybean.     

寡雄腐霉GAQ1对辣椒疫病的防效及对辣椒的促生作用

为明确自主分离的生防菌株寡雄腐霉Pythium oligandrum GAQ1对辣椒疫病的生防效果及其防御机制,通过平板拮抗和盆栽防效试验测定寡雄腐霉菌株GAQ1对辣椒疫霉Phytophthora capsici菌丝的拮抗作用、对辣椒疫病的防效和对辣椒的促生效果,同时应用实时荧光定量PCR技术检测菌株GAQ1处理后辣椒抗性基因表达的变化。结果表明,寡雄腐霉菌株GAQ1的菌丝可以缠绕并吸附寄生在辣椒疫霉菌丝表面或穿入菌丝体内,使辣椒疫霉菌丝细胞死亡;菌株GAQ1发酵液处理辣椒离体叶片再接种辣椒疫霉后产生的病斑直径较对照组显著减少,离体防效为30.79%;接种菌株GAQ1菌丝球后,辣椒疫病的病情指数较对照组显著降低,盆栽防效达69.16%;经菌株GAQ1处理辣椒后可诱导相关抗性基因PR1、WRKY40、WRKY53、ACCO和GST的相对表达量出现不同程度的升高,说明菌株GAQ1可诱导辣椒植株产生不同程度的防御系统应答。菌株GAQ1对辣椒具有良好的促生效果,处理后第5周其株高、株重及根重分别较对照组提高10.11%、33.23%和24.72%,其叶片中叶绿素a、叶绿素b及类胡萝卜素的含量分...     

Olfactory response of the ladybird beetle <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stethorus gilvifrons</Emphasis> to two preys and herbivore-induced plant volatiles

The spider mites Tetranychus urticae Koch and Panonychus ulmi (Koch) (Tetranychidae) cause severe economic losses to vegetable farms and deciduous fruit orchards in Turkey. One of their predators, the ladybird beetle Stethorus gilvifrons (Muls.) (Col., Coccinellidae), aggregates on mite-infested patches of plants. The present study assessed whether there is a role for herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) and/or odors emitted directly from these two mite species in the aggregative response of ladybird beetles. The olfactory responses of the predator females to volatiles from T. urticae- and/or P. ulmi-infested sweet pepper (four cultivars, viz. ‘Demre’, ‘Yalova Carliston’, ‘Kandil Dolma’ and ‘Yag Biberi’), kidney bean (cv. ‘Barbunya’) and apple (M9 rootstock) were investigated using a two-choice olfactometer. Our results showed that HIPVs emitted from both T. urticae- and P. ulmi-infested plants significantly attracted S. gilvifrons adults for all plants except the sweet pepper cv. Yag Biberi. In addition, it was found that volatiles from apple plants infested by T. urticae and, especially, P. ulmi are more attractive for S. gilvifrons females than those emitted by other infested plants. The results also suggest that the odors of T. urticae adults and their products might influence the attraction of S. gilvifrons females.     

Molecular and Pathogenicity Characteristics of Phytophthora nicotianae Responsible for Root Necrosis and Wilting of Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) in Tunisia

Isolates of Phytophthora from pepper, produced in Tunisia, were characterised according to molecular and pathogenicity criteria. Polymerase chain reaction amplification of the ITS1 region in the ribosomal DNA resulted in different sized fragments. The pepper isolates and P. nicotianae yielded a fragment of 310bp that distinguished it from P. capsici with a fragment of 270bp. The ribosomal RNA gene amplicons of both internal transcribed spacers and the 5.8 S of the pepper Phytophthora and P. nicotianae were digested with 8 endonucleases. The patterns generated, with the 2 enzymes that cut, were identical for both taxa. This molecular analysis corroborated the morphological and biological characteristics and suggests strongly that the isolates of Phytophthora from pepper belong to the species P. nicotianae. Inoculation of pepper, tomato, eggplant and tobacco plants with the isolates of P. nicotianae from pepper showed they were highly pathogenic on pepper but not on tobacco, while their pathogenicity was weak on tomato and eggplant and was associated with atypical symptoms not observed in the field. These pathogenicity tests suggest that pepper isolates of P. nicotianae are particularly adapted to their host and may thus constitute a forma specialis of P. nicotianae.     

Enhancing Resistance of Tomato and Hot Pepper to Pythium Diseases by Seed Treatment with Fluorescent Pseudomonads

Twenty isolates of fluorescent pseudomonads were evaluated for their ability to control damping-off in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) and hot pepper (Capsicum annuum). These isolates were characterized as Pseudomonas fluorescens and Pseudomonas putida. Two isolates, PFATR and KKM 1 belonged to P. putida and the remaining 18 isolates belonged to P. fluorescens. Among these isolates, P. fluorescens isolate Pf1 showed the maximum inhibition of mycelial growth of Pythium aphanidermatum and increased plant growth promotion in tomato and hot pepper. P. fluorescens isolate Pf1 was effective in reducing the damping-off incidence in tomato and hot pepper in greenhouse and field conditions. Isolate Pf1 was further tested for its ability to induce production of defense-related enzymes and chemicals in plants. Earlier and increased activities of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), peroxidase (PO) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) were observed in P. fluorescens Pf1 pretreated tomato and hot pepper plants challenged with Pythium aphanidermatum. Moreover, higher accumulation of phenolics was noticed in plants pretreated with P. fluorescens isolate Pf1 challenged with Pythium aphanidermatum. Thus, the present study shows that in addition to direct antagonism and plant growth-promotion, induction of defense-related enzymes involved in the phenyl propanoid pathway collectively contributed to enhance resistance against invasion of Pythium in tomato and hot pepper.     

Effect of Buprofezin onIcerya Purchasi andPlanococcus Citri

The effectiveness of buprofezin (aqueous suspensions from 25% wettable powder) on cumulative nymph mortality and reproduction of two homopterous pests,Icerya purchasi Maskell (Margarodidae) andPlanococcus citri (Risso) (Pseudococcidae), was investigated under laboratory conditions. Buprofezin was very effective against crawlers of both species. Dipping in concentrations of 0.002%, 0.01% and 0.05% (a. i.) resulted in 91–99% nymph mortality ofP. citri, whereas 100% mortality was recorded whenI. purchasi was treated at 0.05% (a. i.); the 3rd-instar nymphs ofI. purchasi were less susceptible to the chemical. Death of the larval stages occurred mainly during the molting process to the 2nd-instar nymphs. At 0.05%, buprofezin sprayed on adults slightly reduced fecundity and decreased egg hatch to 31% forI. purchasi and, depending on the exposure period of the females, to 49-7% forP. citri. Buprofezin at 0.05% exhibited strong ovicidal activity onP. citri, resulting in inhibition of over 80% egg hatch.     

韭菜和辣椒间作对辣椒疫病的防治效果及其化感机理

为明确韭菜和辣椒间作对辣椒疫病的防治效果及其化感机理,比较了韭菜和辣椒不同行比间作对辣椒疫病的防治效果,测定了韭菜茎、叶挥发物与浸提液对辣椒疫霉菌的抑制作用,并分析了韭菜根系对辣椒疫霉菌游动孢子侵染和传播行为的影响。结果表明,韭菜与辣椒行比为3∶1间作能显著控制辣椒疫病的扩展与传播;2.0 g/皿韭菜茎挥发物及0.15 m L/m L茎浸提液对辣椒疫霉菌菌丝生长的抑制活性可达33.33%和88.75%;辣椒疫霉菌游动孢子对韭菜根系具有明显的趋化活性,且于根围迅速休止并萌发,丧失在土壤中继续寻找寄主的能力,其传播侵染行为受到干扰。研究表明,韭菜和辣椒间作可以有效控制辣椒疫病的扩展蔓延,实现对辣椒疫病的生态防控。     

Nitrogen effect on competition between winter cereals and littleseed canarygrass

Field experiments were conducted in northern Greece during 1994, 1995, and 1996 to study the effect of nitrogen fertilization on competition between littleseed canaryglass (Phalaris minor Retz.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare =distichum L.) or triticale (Triticosecale). The presence of 400P. minor plants per square meter until early March did not have an adverse effect on dry weight of any crop. However, their further presence significantly reduced dry weight of wheat and triticale, but not that of barley. Grain yield of wheat and triticale was reduced 48% and 47%, respectively, by season-long competition ofP. minor, whereas the corresponding reduction for barley was only 8%. Crop yield reduction due toP. minor competition resulted mainly from reduction in ear number and less from reduction in 1000-grain weight. Nitrogen fertilization (150 kg N ha⁻¹), compared with control (0 kg N), slightly increased yield of all crops grown without weed competition. The same treatment also increased dry weight and competitive ability ofP. minor against wheat and triticale, compared with that of control (0 kg N); the split application of nitrogen (50 kg N ha⁻¹ before crop sowing and 100 kg N ha⁻¹ in early March) caused a slightly greater increase inP. minor dry weight than did 150 kg N ha⁻¹ applied once before crop sowing. Dry weight ofP. minor grown with barley was not affected by nitrogen fertilization, but it was severely reduced compared with that ofP. minor grown with wheat or triticale. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting April 22, 2003.     

Effects of foliar sprayed calcium sources onTomato mosaic virus (ToMV) infection in tomato plants grown in greenhouses

Spray solutions containing 0.3% Ca which were prepared from four different calcium sources were foliar-sprayed on greenhouse-grown tomato plants, infected with theTomato mosaic virus Tobamovirus (ToMV) or not. ToMV-infected and uninfected control groups were sprayed with distilled water. Growth and macronutrient (N, P, K, Ca and Mg) composition of tomato plants as well as virus concentration and its relative infectivity were investigated in treated and untreated plants. The Ca sprays were applied three times: on the same day as inoculation, and 15 and 30 days after inoculation. Virus concentration in tomato plants generally decreased with foliar-sprayed Ca. Virus concentration (DAS-ELISA absorbance) was reduced by foliar-sprayed Ca, but plants remained infected. At the same time, tissue Ca concentrations increased significantly with foliar-applied Ca, with the exception of CaNO₃·4H₂O+0.05M Na-EDTA. ToMV reduced the fresh and dry weights and Ca concentrations of tomato plants, but significantly raised P concentration in the tissue. Neither virus inoculation nor foliar Ca applications affected N and Mg concentrations in tomato plants. The foliar-applied Ca from all the sources gave K concentrations similar to those of control plants. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Jan. 26, 2007.     

短翅蚜小蜂对桃蚜的取食和寄生功能反应

为评估短翅蚜小蜂对桃蚜的搜寻及控害潜能,采用叶碟法研究了短翅蚜小蜂对甘蓝和辣椒2种植物上桃蚜2龄若虫的取食与寄生行为。结果表明,短翅蚜小蜂对甘蓝桃蚜和辣椒桃蚜的取食和寄生功能反应均符合Holling II及Holling III型方程。短翅蚜小蜂的取食和寄生搜寻效应均随蚜虫密度的增加而降低,当桃蚜密度小于35头时,短翅蚜小蜂对甘蓝桃蚜的取食搜寻效应大于辣椒桃蚜,而当桃蚜密度大于35头时,短翅蚜小蜂对辣椒桃蚜的取食搜寻效应大于甘蓝桃蚜;短翅蚜小蜂在所有密度下对辣椒桃蚜的寄生搜寻效应均大于甘蓝桃蚜。短翅蚜小蜂取食甘蓝桃蚜的瞬间攻击率a'为0.3289,处理时间T_h为0.2597,均大于辣椒桃蚜,寄生甘蓝桃蚜的瞬时攻击率a'为0.8213,小于辣椒桃蚜,而处理时间T_h为0.0275,大于寄生辣椒桃蚜;短翅蚜小蜂对甘蓝桃蚜的理论最大取食量和寄生量均小于辣椒桃蚜。研究表明,短翅蚜小蜂对不同密度的桃蚜均有一定的控制能力,且对辣椒桃蚜的控制作用大于甘蓝桃蚜。     

辣椒炭疽病生防菌株的筛选、鉴定及其抑菌机理

为有效防控由胶孢炭疽菌Colletorichum gloeosporioides引起的辣椒炭疽病,自辣椒上分离得到内生细菌,通过平板拮抗和辣椒离体生防试验筛选对胶孢炭疽菌有抑制作用的拮抗菌株,通过形态学特征、生理生化特征以及分子生物学技术对其进行鉴定,并于室内测定其对胶孢炭疽菌菌丝生长的影响、对辣椒炭疽病的防效及接种后辣椒内抗病活性物质含量以及防御酶活性。结果显示,从辣椒上共分离纯化获得46株细菌,其中菌株SQ-6对胶孢炭疽菌有明显的抑制作用,抑制率为61.11%,显著高于其他45株。结合菌株SQ-6的形态学特征、生理生化特征以及分子生物学特征,将该菌株鉴定为解淀粉芽胞杆菌Bacillus amyloliquefaciens。SQ-6菌株的50%无细胞滤液可引起胶孢炭疽菌菌丝畸形、断裂等,对其抑制率为57.87%。SQ-6菌株的10%、50%发酵液和10%、50%无细胞滤液均能显著降低由胶孢炭疽菌引起的辣椒炭疽病的发病率和病情指数,其中50%无细胞滤液的防效最好。SQ-6菌株能够提高辣椒内Vc、酚类和黄酮类物质含量,诱导辣椒内过氧化物酶（peroxidase,POD）、丙氨酸解氨酶（p...     

Phytophthora root rot of sweet pepper

Phytophthora capsici proved to be the causal agent of a root and crown rot of sweet pepper in the Netherlands.P. capsici was pathogenic on sweet pepper, tomato and sometimes on eggplant but not on tobacco Xanthi. Of these test plants only tomato was infected byP. nicotianae.No different symptoms in plants infected with eitherP. capsici orP. nicotianae were found. Dipping the roots of tomato and sweet pepper plants in a suspension ofP. capsici resulted in a more severe attack than pouring the suspension on the stem base.Resistance in tomato toP. nicotianae did not include resistance toP. capsici. A method to distinguishP. capsici fromP. nicotianae after isolation from soil is described. Both species were able to infect green fruits of tomato and sweet pepper.p. capsici survived in moist soil in the absence of a host for at least 15 months.Samenvatting Phytophthora capsici bleek de oorzaak te zijn van een voet-en wortelrot in paprika op twee bedrijven in 1977 in Nederland.P. capsici was pathogeen op paprika, tomaat en soms op aubergine maar niet op tabak Xanthi.P. nicotianae tastte van deze toetsplanten alleen tomaat aan. Verschillen in symptomen tussenP. nicotianae enP. capsici werden bij tomaat niet waargenomen.Het dompelen van de wortels in eenP. capsici suspensie gaf een ernstiger aantasting dan het begieten van de wortelhals met deze suspensie.Resistentie in tomaat tegenP. nicotianae bleek geen resistentie tegenP. capsici in te houden. P. capsici kan in grond worden aangetoond door groene paprikavruchten als vangsubstraat te gebruiken.P. capsici enP. nicotianae kunnen beide zowel vruchten van tomaat als paprika aantasten. P. capsici overleefde een periode van 15 maan den in vochtige grond waarop geen waardplant werd geteeld.     

An inhibitor of polyamine biosynthesis — Difluoromethylornithine — and the polyamine spermidine for the control of gray mold(Botrytis Cinerea)

Difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) — an inhibitor of polyamine biosynthesis, and the polyamine spermidine (Spd) reduced gray mold of tomato, pepper, eggplant, bean andSenecio sp. leaves, and of rose petals by 37–88% when applied at 0.1–1.0 mM each. Higher doses did not result in better control. The disease was also reduced significantly on tomato fruits by 1.0 inM DFMO and by 0.1–1.0 mM Spd, and on cucumber fruits by 0.1–1.0 mM of both compounds, but not on grape berries. The combination of 0.2 mM DFMO with 1.0 mM Spd controlled gray mold ofSenecio sp. and tomato leaves additively better than either treatment alone, whereas this effect was not observed in leaves of lettuce and pepper. Ethylene production was reduced significantly by Spd applied to leaves of tomato and pepper, but not by DFMO. Linear growth and germination of the fungus were affected by lower concentrations of DFMO (ED50 0.12–0.97 and 1.4, respectively) as compared with Spd. Spermidine and DFMO controlled white mold(Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) as effectively as did the fungicide benomyl. Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization. No. 3195-E, 1991 series.     

Pathogenicity and RAPD analysis of Phytophthora nicotianae pathogenic to pepper in Tunisia

Nine isolates of Phtophthora nicotianae were isolated from infected pepper plants. Their pathogenicity was studied in Capsicum annuum in comparison with P. nicotianae isolates from tomato and tobacco. The pathogenicity test showed that pepper isolates of P. nicotianae are adapted to their host. Banding patterns obtained by RAPD analysis with six oligonucleotide primers revealed polymorphism that grouped the isolates independently of the plant host. The polygenic dendrogram showed that pepper isolates were more similar to tomato isolates than to tobacco isolates. The RAPD bands of 1300 and 1500 bp, detected with primers OPD-01 and OPD-10, respectively, appeared specific to the most pathogenic pepper isolates. The OPK-08-1950 seems specific to the isolates of P. nicotianae from tomato. These results suggest that host specified might occur in P. nicotianae and that may be due to interspecific hybridization events resulting in novel pathogenic behavior.     

枯草芽胞杆菌B1409对番茄和辣椒的防病促生作用

为探讨枯草芽胞杆菌Bacillus subtilis菌株B1409对番茄早疫病和辣椒疫霉病的防效和生防机制,采用平板对峙法和盆栽法测定了该菌株对番茄早疫病菌和辣椒疫霉病菌菌丝生长的抑制作用、对2种病害的盆栽防效以及对番茄和辣椒植株促生长效果和防御酶活性的影响。结果表明:菌株B1409能明显抑制番茄早疫病菌和辣椒疫霉病菌菌丝生长,且导致菌丝发生畸变。10~8CFU/mL菌株B1409菌液对番茄早疫病和辣椒疫霉病的预防效果分别为67.82%和61.22%,治疗效果分别为41.22%和56.43%。不同浓度B1409菌液均能促进番茄和辣椒植株生长,并能增强其体内超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化物酶和过氧化氢酶活性,且浓度越高促进效果越明显。番茄和辣椒植株的平均干重分别在10~2CFU/mL和10~4CFU/mL B1409菌液处理后显著高于对照,增长率分别为42.35%和4.87%。番茄和辣椒植株经10~2CFU/mL B1409菌液处理后,体内超氧化物歧化酶活性比对照显著增加,增长率分别为91.23%和19.58%。研究表明枯草芽胞杆菌B1409菌株可通过直接抑制菌丝生长及诱导植物体自身抗病性等方式来有效防治番茄早疫病和辣椒疫霉病。     

Seedborne fungi detected on stored solanaceous berry seeds and their biological activities

We isolated 629 fungi from 1296 berry seeds of solanaceous plants, including tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), eggplant (Solanum melongena), bell pepper (Capsicum annuum), and red pepper (Capsicum annuum var. annuum) preserved for long and short terms. The isolates were classified into 22 genera excluding unidentified fungi, and the fungal floras were divided into two types: the tomato–eggplant and pepper groups. The results of cluster analysis with unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic average also supported these groups. Most tomato seeds infested with Geotrichum candidum germinated and grew the same as uninfested seeds. Cladosporium sphaerospermum and Arthrinium sp. isolated from eggplant seeds strongly suppressed germination, and Penicillium variabile suppressed seminal root elongation on eggplant. Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea, and Myrothecium verrucaria detected from red pepper or bell pepper seeds were pathogenic to the fruits and the seedlings after artificial inoculation.     

山苍子精油对辣椒疫霉生长发育的影响及对辣椒疫病的防效

为明确山苍子精油防治植物疫病的应用前景,在室内离体条件下测定其对辣椒疫霉Phytophthora capsici菌丝生长、孢子囊形成与萌发、游动孢子萌发的毒力,观测经山苍子精油处理后菌丝生长量及形态结构、细胞膜通透性和可溶性蛋白含量的变化;采用离体叶片法和灌根法分别测定山苍子精油对辣椒疫病的预防效果和治疗效果。结果表明,山苍子精油对辣椒疫霉的菌丝生长、孢子囊形成与萌发以及游动孢子萌发的有效中浓度EC_(50)分别为161.49、29.68、231.80、90.68 mg/L;EC_(50)和EC_(75)的山苍子精油处理显著降低了辣椒疫霉菌丝的鲜重和干重,抑制率均在49.71%以上,亦可显著降低菌丝中可溶性蛋白含量,抑制率分别为10.77%和18.47%;用山苍子精油处理菌丝后,其顶端生长受到抑制,分枝明显增多、间距缩短;细胞膜通透性增大。1 000 mg/L山苍子精油对辣椒疫病的预防效果达63.33%(离体叶片法),2 000 mg/L精油对辣椒疫病的预防效果和治疗效果分别达80.00%和68.00%(灌根法,7 d),均显著高于对照药剂嘧菌酯。表明山苍子精油是辣椒疫霉的有效抑制剂,在辣椒疫病综合治理中具有较大的应用潜力。     

Application of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pantoea agglomerans</Emphasis> CPA-2 in combination with heated sodium bicarbonate solutions to control the major postharvest diseases affecting citrus fruit at several mediterranean locations

We determined the potential of using a formulated product based on Pantoea agglomerans CPA-2, either alone or in combination with heated sodium bicarbonate (SBC) solutions, to control the major postharvest diseases affecting citrus crops in the Mediterranean region. Treatments applied either individually or in combination were tested in semi-commercial and commercial trials carried out with oranges and mandarins from the Algarve, Andalusia and Catalonia. Firstly, several formulations of the biocontrol agents were tested in laboratory trials; one of them, a freeze-dried formulation of P. agglomerans strain CPA-2 called FD10-3, was chosen for combined with SBC. This formulation, applied at 2 × 10⁸cfu ml⁻¹ and the SBC treatment, applied at 3% 50°C for 20–40 s, demonstrated that it was possible to reduce decay development in laboratory trials. Semi-commercial applications of FD10-3 and 3% SBC solution at 50°C for 40 s showed excellent control of decay in unwounded mandarins and oranges artificially inoculated with both Penicillium digitatum and P. italicum. No rind injuries or residues attributable to hot water or SBC were observed on treated fruits. Combined treatment provided better control than the two treatments applied separately. Commercial trials demonstrated an important reduction in natural decay with the treatment of SBC 3% at 50°C for 40 s. Furthermore, bacterial-product formulation treatment significantly reduced the percentage of infected fruit and in some cases this reduction was equal to chemical treatments. Even so, no improvement in efficacy was observed with the combination of FD10-3 and SBC in the commercial test. We also assessed the ability of FD10-3 to grow at the wound site in oranges, whether alone or in the presence of SBC, and also its compatibility with standard citrus packinghouse practices.     

Phylogenetic analyses of plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria isolated from tomato,lettuce, and Japanese pepper plants in Hyogo Prefecture,Japan

Approximately 30,000 fluorescent bacterial strains isolated from tomato, lettuce, eggplant, Chinese cabbage, and Japanese pepper plants at seven different locations in Hyogo Prefecture, were screened for plant-growth-promoting (PGP) activity to induce disease resistance against bacterial wilt in tomato. The 37 strains that had higher PGP activity were subjected to molecular phylogenetic analyses using the sequences of the 16S rRNA, gyrB and rpoD genes. Most of the strains were identified as Pseudomonas fluorescens or its close relative, P. putida, while a few strains were grouped with more distantly related bacterial species such as Enterobacter and Stenotrophomonas. The phylogenetic relationships among tomato and lettuce isolates mostly coincided with the source locality and host plants, with a few exceptions. In contrast, isolates from Japanese pepper plants did not form their own cluster but represented several different bacterial species.