番茄NBS-LRR抗病基因家族全基因组分析

NBS-LRR(nucleotide-binding site and leucine-rich-repeat)是植物中最大类抗病基因家族之一。番茄基因组测序完成为全基因组水平上分析NBS-LRR抗病基因家族提供了机遇。利用生物信息学方法对番茄NBS-LRR抗病基因家族成员数目进行鉴定,并对其染色体定位和系统发育关系进行了分析。随后,将番茄和马铃薯NBS-LRR抗病基因进行了比较基因组学分析。结果表明:番茄基因组共包括252个NBS-LRR抗病基因,分布于番茄12条染色体上;63.5%的基因成簇存在,大部分为串联重复;系统发育关系分析表明番茄CC-NBS-LRR(CNL)亚家族较其他亚家族扩展程度大;同线性分析发现番茄中共79个NBS-LRR抗病基因与马铃薯基因具有同源关系。结果将为番茄NBS-LRR抗病基因家族的深入研究提供依据,同时也为利用番茄NBS-LRR基因进行基因定位以及相关抗病基因克隆等奠定基础。     

苦荞细胞色素CYP81家族同源基因FtP450-R4的克隆、分子鉴定及其功能分析

细胞色素P450 (cytochrome P450,CYP450)是高等植物中最大的酶蛋白家族之一,广泛参与植物的次生代谢和抗逆生理.本研究采用同源克隆和cDNA末端快速克隆(rapid-amplification of cDNAends,RACE)技术,获得苦荞(Fagopyrum tataricum) CYP81家族同源基因FtP450-R4 (GenBank登录号:KM271986).FtP450-R4 cDNA全长1770bp,5'-UTR为49 bp,3'-UTR为194bp,ORF为l 527 bp,其ORF序列可编码508个氨基酸残基的蛋白.生物信息学分析表明,FtP450-R4蛋白通过N-端4～24位氨基酸残基定位于内质网,与F3'H (flavonoid 3'-hydroxylase)、I2'H (isoflavone 2'-hydroxylase)和其他CYP450的同源性在44％～46％之间;多重序列比对显示,FtP450-R4具有CYP450中经典的基序和保守序列,但不含F3'H的特征基序(GGEK);系统进化树分析显示,FtP450-R4与拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana) CYP81家族和I2'H聚为一大簇,说明其可能参与苦荞黄酮类化合物的羟化或对逆境胁迫的应答.UV-B、寒冷和干旱均能引起FtP450-R4在苦养子叶中表达量的显著变化,而在胚轴中其表达量变化不显著.利用大肠杆菌(Escherchia coli) BL21 (DE3)菌株对FtP450-R4蛋白进行了可溶性表达,活性鉴定表明,重组FtP450-R4蛋白能以还原型烟酰胺腺嘌呤二核苷酸磷酸(reduced form of nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate, NADPH)和山奈酚为底物进行酶促反应,具有生物学活性.本研究可为了解CYP450在黄酮合成代谢中的功能,明确苦荞黄酮代谢调控的分子机制提供了基础资料.     

诸葛菜OvCYP86MF基因的克隆及其特性分析

为进一步阐明细胞色素P450基因CYP86MF在诸葛菜发育中的分子机理,本文根据已知同源基因保守序列设计特异引物,利用RT-PCR和RACE技术从诸葛菜中获得一个细胞色素P450基因(OvCYP86MF)全长cDNA序列,该序列全长为1876bp,含有1605bp的完整开放阅读框,可编码534个氨基酸,分子量和等电点分别为61.4kDa和6.90,具有细胞色素P450蛋白的典型特征,即保守结构域FNAGPRLCIG;原核表达显示该基因的融合蛋白在体外可以诱导表达;DANSTAR和Clustal W软件分析表明该基因的全长cDNA序列及其编码氨基酸序列与十字花科物种拟南芥相似性很高,达到80%以上,亲缘关系最近;与CYP86C亚家族成员在氨基酸水平上的相似性均高于50%,因此推断该基因属于CYP86C这个亚家族。Northern杂交分析表明该基因在花蕾中特异表达。     

十字花科植物CYP86MF同源基因的克隆及特征分析

用保守的特异引物进行PCR扩增，并结合RACE技术，从大白菜(Brassicacampestris L．)品种黄芽14，萝卜(Raphanus sativus L．)品种圆白和诸葛菜(Orychophrogmus violaceus)3个材料中扩增到3个完整的cDNA全长，分别命名为Bc-CYP86MF，RsCYP86MF和OvCYP86MF，它们的cDNA全长分别为1854，1818和1876bp，分别编码524，526和534个氨基酸残基。将所推导的氨基酸序列与数据库中已知基因进行排序，发现它们与拟南芥CYP86家族所有成员的氨基酸相似性都大于38％，可将它们归为细胞色素CYP86基因家族。BcCYP86MF和RsCYP86MF与CYP86C4亚家族氨基酸同源性均大于55％，则可归为CYP86C4亚家族，而OvCYP86MF与CYP86C3的同源性最高，为86．5％，应归为CYP86C3亚家族。根据氨基酸序列的排序结果构建的系统树表明，CYP450基因的氨基酸序列进化程度与物种的亲缘关系的远近相吻合。对蛋白二级结构预测结果发现，它们都具有细胞色素P450典型的保守结构域FNAGPRLCIG，而且氨基酸组成也很相似。     

甘薯交替氧化酶基因家族生物信息学与表达分析

为分离甘薯[Ipomoea batatas(L.)Lam.]交替氧化酶(AOX)基因家族成员,分析其在甘薯应答生物和非生物胁迫中的响应模式,本试验在筛选甘薯基因组的基础上,进行基因克隆和测序,最终从心香甘薯中获得3个AOX基因家族成员.基因结构分析结果表明,3个甘薯AOX基因的cDNA全长依次为963、1 080和1 ...     

PCR-SSCP技术与比较基因组学结合定位棉花Li1基因

聚合酶链式反应-单链构象多态性(polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism,PCR-SSCP)作为一种能检测基因组间DNA碱基微小差异的技术手段,具有操作简便、快捷且灵敏度高等优点.比较基因组学近年来已经成为研究生物基因组的最主要手段之一;大量基因组序列的产生为通过比较基因组学开发新标记和定位目标基因提供了大量的DNA序列资源.本研究以李氏超短纤维突变体(Ligon lintless-1,Li1)为材料,定位Li1基因,针对PCR扩增产物片段较大的样品(＞400bp)进行PCR-SSCP技术的优化,用己发表的拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)和棉花(Gossypium spp.)D基因组DNA序列为参考,探索PCR-SSCP技术与比较基因组学结合开发新标记应用于棉花基因定位的可能性.结果表明,电压为150V,胶浓度为10％,电泳温度为4℃时电泳结果最好;上样缓冲液与PCR扩增目的片段比例为5∶1为最佳比例.利用上述优化的PCR-SSCP技术将根据棉花与拟南芥同线性区段开发的分子标记构建了一个由28个标记组成的长度为149.6 cM的遗传图,该区域包含4个功能上与Li1位点密切相关的基因.此外,利用D基因组序列开发的标记构建了一个由17个SSCP标记和Li1位点组成,跨越40.3cM的遗传图谱,距其最近的两端标记W058和P095分别为0.6和0.3 cM.本研究为棉花Li1基因的精细定位及其候选基因的克隆提供了理论基础.     

家蚕谷胱甘肽转移酶基因的克隆、序列分析及其表达模式

谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶(GSTs)是昆虫体内重要的解毒酶系,在对外源和内源化合物解毒代谢中起着重要的作用。以GenBank中已知的昆虫GST的氨基酸序列在家蚕(Bombyx mori)基因组序列中作TBLASTN检索,获得了多个可能的家蚕GST同源基因。对其中的一个GST新基因进行了EST分析和克隆,结果表明,该基因编码区全长663bp。以该基因推导的氨基酸序列与其它物种的GSTs进行相似性比较和系统发育分析,发现此基因为delta家族的成员,并命名为BmGSTd3。RT-PCR结果表明,BmGSTd3基因在家蚕5龄第3天的8个组织中都有表达,中肠和表皮的表达丰度较高。在辛硫磷处理家蚕后的72h内,BmGSTd3基因的转录水平与对照组相比没有显著的变化。对BmGSTd3基因的5'侧翼区的调控序列进行了预测,共发现12个可能与内源和外源物代谢以及抗氧化相关的转录调控元件。     

植物GH3基因家族的生物信息学分析

植物生长素在植物的生长发育过程中至关重要,GH3基因家族是植物生长素早期应答的成员。本研究采用比较基因组学的方法,利用已经分离的拟南芥GH3(Gretchen Hagen3)蛋白为检索序列,在全基因组水平上搜索拟南芥、水稻、葡萄、白杨和苜蓿的GH3基因的同源序列。最终确定了59个GH3候选基因,其中拟南芥19个,水稻14个,葡萄9个,白杨14个,苜蓿3个。对同源序列作进一步的多序列联配、MEME、ESTs和系统发生表达分析,结果表明:GH3基因家族的基本特征在单双子叶植物分离之前就已经形成;GH3结构域在蛋白质间较保守,可以分为3个亚家族,其中个别蛋白发生了基序丢失;59个同源蛋白中的40个成员找到了ESTs的证据,且表达部位多样,不同成员之间的表达部位存在差异。该研究结果将为植物的GH3基因家族的研究提供参考。     

PHAs合酶phaC2基因转化烟草叶绿体的研究

中长链羟基脂肪酸聚酯 (medium-chain-length-PHAs, mcl-PHAs) 属于微生物聚酯。Ⅱ型PHA合酶是mcl-PHAs生物合成途径中的关键酶。将编码Ⅱ型PHA合酶的基因phaC2与水稻(Oryza sativa )叶绿体psbA基因的启动子和终止子构建表达盒(RpsbA-pro-phaC2-RpsbA-ter)，连同壮观霉素抗性基因aadA表达盒(prrn-aadA-TpsbA-ter)一起克隆进烟草叶绿体基因组同源片段rbcL和accD中，构建了烟草叶绿体转化表达载体pTC2。基因枪法转化烟草(Nicotiana tobacum L.)叶片，获得具有壮观霉素抗性的转基因烟草。对T0代和T1代转基因植株的PCR和Southern blot鉴定结果表明, 外源基因确已整合进烟草叶绿体基因组中，T1代转基因植株已达同质化。RT-PCR分析结果证实phaC2基因已在转录水平上表达。转基因植株的正反交试验证明外源基因在转基因后代中遵循母性遗传规律，不存在转基因的花粉漂移现象。通过叶绿体遗传转化, 实现中长链羟基脂肪酸聚酯合成关键酶基因phaC2在烟草叶绿体基因组中的稳定转化。     

棉花转录因子基因(GhMYB11)的克隆与表达分析

MYB基因家族在植物应对外界生物和非生物胁迫的过程中有重要的调控作用.本研究利用二倍体雷蒙德氏棉(Gossypium raimondii)基因组数据库,从陆地棉(G.hirsutum)品种鲁棉研32号中克隆到一个新的MYB转录因子GhMYB111(GenBank登录号:HQ234875.1),Cdna全长1 001 bp,开放阅读框828bp.通过与模式植物拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)和主要作物小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)、玉米(Zea mays L.)、水稻(Oryza sativa L.) MYB蛋白的氨基酸序列比对发现,GhMYB 11蛋白与拟南芥中脱落酸(abscisic acid,ABA)合成和信号传导的重要基因AtMYB13/14编码的蛋白高度相似(E值分别为7e-83和1e-90),含两个高度保守的MYB结构域R2R3及一个转录激活结构域.实时定量PCR分析发现,GhMYB 11基因在黄萎病菌(Verticillium dahliae)侵染、干旱、盐和氧化胁迫处理后的棉花幼苗叶片中表达显著上调.GhMYB11基因可能在棉花生物和非生物胁迫反应中起重要调控作用,是陆地棉品种抗逆性遗传改良的重要候选基因.本研究为利用基因工程手段提高棉花抗逆性提供了基础材料     

Soil-profile distribution of primary and secondary plant-available nutrients under conventional and no tillage

Nutrient distributions under no tillage (NT) compared with conventional disk-and-bed tillage (CT) management in the warm, humid region of the southeastern USA need to be assessed so that future placement, quantity, and type of fertilizers can be altered, if necessary, to efficiently match crop demands. We determined soil-profile distributions of pH, N, P, S, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu to a depth of 0.9 m at the end of 8.5 years of continuous CT and NT management on a Weswood silty clay loam (fine, mixed, thermic Fluventic Ustochrept) in southcentral Texas. Most dramatic changes occurred within the 0–0.05 m depth, where soil under NT had lower pH, Fe, and Cu than under CT, but greater P, K, Zn, and Mn. Greater P and K under NT than under CT also occurred below the till-zone (0.15–0.3 m). At a depth of 0–0.3 m, soil under NT contained greater amounts of extractable P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu than under CT. Nitrogen fertilization had little effect on nutrient distributions, except resulting in greater extractable K at 0–0.05 m and greater nitrate at 0–0.15 m. Few changes in soil-profile distributions were observed for extractable S, Ca, Mg, and Na. Long-term continuous use of NT on this fine-textured, high-fertility (except for N) soil had no apparent adverse effects on nutrient distributions relative to CT, but enhanced conservation and availability of P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu near the soil surface where crop roots proliferate.     

Assessing the effectiveness of conservation measures: Resolving the “wicked” problem of the Steller sea lion

“Wicked” problems are those that are complex and that change when solutions are applied. Many conflicts in conservation fall into this category. The study approached the problem of how to constrain the apparent wickedness of a problem in the conservation management of a species by using simple empirical indicators to carry out iterative assessment of the risk to a population and to document how this risk evolves in relation to the addition of new data and the implementation of management actions. Effects of high levels of uncertainty within data and also concerning population structure were examined through stochastic simulation and by exploration of scenarios. Historical trends in the example used, the Steller sea lion, showed rapid declines in abundance in some regions during the 1980s. The current total population is 130,000-150,000 Steller sea lions through Alaska and British Columbia and this number has been stable since about 1990 in spite of regional differences in population dynamics. Regional differences in the sequence of changes in the number of pups and non-pups, suggested that an internal re-distribution of juveniles could have happened between 1980 and 1990. Current productivity also appears close to the long-term mean. Stochastic population projection using various scenarios showed that, based upon this history, the risk of extinction for the population has declined and is below reasonable thresholds for considering the population to be endangered. The trends in risk suggest that management actions taken since 1990 have probably been effective. Consequently, the conservation management objectives for the Steller sea lion are probably being met. The approach provides a mechanism, based upon experience and scenario analysis, for exploring future policy options and may help to constrain the debate amongst stakeholders about the cost-benefit trade-offs associated with different options.     

“绿色革命”以来大气CO2浓度升高对C3作物营养品质的影响

自20世纪60年代"绿色革命"以来,育种技术和农耕技术的发展促进了农作物产量的大幅提升,然而作物的营养品质出现下降趋势。在相似的遗传背景下,大气CO_2浓度升高会使单位体积农作物产品的营养元素含量下降,因此"绿色革命"至今,农作物产品的营养元素下降可能受大气CO_2浓度升高影响。通过植物生长箱模拟"绿色革命"初期和目前的大气CO_2浓度水平(310μmol/mol和400μmol/mol),针对主要C_3作物水稻、小麦和大豆,研究"绿色革命"以来大气CO_2浓度升高对其籽粒的C、N、Fe、Zn元素含量的影响,结果表明:CO_2浓度升高对3种作物籽粒的C元素含量几乎没有影响,变化幅度在±1.5%之间;籽粒的N、Fe、Zn元素含量普遍呈现下降趋势,但均未达到显著水平。     

Potential of wild species for genetic enhancement of some semi-arid food crops

Discovery and incorporation of genes from wild species provide means to sustain crop improvement, particularly when levels of resistance in the cultigens are low and virulent strains of pests and pathogens overcome the host plant resistance. The extent of utilization and the potential of the wild genepool for genetic enhancement were reviewed in five important food crops viz. sorghum, pearl millet, chickpea, pigeonpea and groundnut grown in the semi-arid tropics. Introgression from compatible wild germplasm in the primary gene pool resulted in transfer of new cytoplasmic male sterility systems in pearl millet and pigeonpea, development of high protein, cleistogamous flower and dwarf pigeonpea lines and foliar disease resistant groundnut cultivars. Utilization of wild species in secondary and tertiary gene pools has been generally limited due to sterility, restricted recombination or cross incompatibility. Nevertheless, these species are extremely important as they contain high levels of resistance to several important biotic and abiotic stresses. Several of them, like those belonging to the Parasorghum section and the rhizomatous Arachis species are sources of multiple resistances and hold great promise to sustain crop productivity.     

Enhanced establishment and growth of giant cardon cactus in an eroded field in the Sonoran Desert using native legume trees as nurse plants aided by plant growth-promoting microorganisms and compost

To evaluate the feasibility of long-term desert reforestation technology of mixed vegetation, cardon cactus (Pachycereus pringlei) seedlings from indoor and outdoor nurseries were planted in the field adjacent to one seedling of potential legume nurse trees: mesquite amargo (Prosopis articulata), yellow palo verde (Parkinsonia microphylla), and blue palo verde (Parkinsonia florida). Some of the planting holes were also supplemented with common dairy compost. Additionally, the combinations of legume tree–cactus were inoculated with either a consortium of desert arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB; the diazotroph Azospirillum brasilense Cd, and the phosphate solubilizer Paenibacillus sp.), or a mixture of all. The field experiments were evaluated periodically during 30 months for survival and growth. Cardons reared in an outdoor screen house survived better in the field than those reared in a controlled growth chamber and hardened later outdoors. Association with any legume nurse tree increased survival and enhanced growth of untreated cardons. For cardons growing alone, application of either compost, AM fungi, and all the treatments combined increased survival. For these plants, no treatment affected plant growth during the first 3 months after transplanting. Later, all treatments, except for AM fungi, enhanced plant growth. However, only 2 years after transplanting the enhanced growth effect of AM fungi was also significant. In the presence of the legume nurse trees, transient positive effects on cardon growth were recorded. General evaluation after 30 months of cultivation showed that the treatments positively affected cardon growth when growing alone or in combination only with mesquite amargo but not with the other two legume trees. This study proposes that young legume trees have the capacity to enhance survival and growth of cardon cactus, depending on the legume cactus combination. Additional treatments such as compost or PGPB can either amplify the effect or else attenuate it.     

Karyotypic and genome size variation in Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. (pigeonpea) and some wild relatives

Detailed karyotypes and 4C DNA amounts have been studied in five cultivars of Cajanus cajan and 20 species belonging to Cajanus, Rhynchosia, Dunbaria, Flemingia and Paracalyx. C. cajan shows intraspecific variability and its karyotype is most similar to that of C. cajanifolius (sect. Cajanus) in the morphology and number of satellite chromosomes and the lack of any correlation between chromosome size within the complement and asymmetry. Karyotypes of C. lineatus and C. sericeus belonging to sect. Atylia are similar with respect to maximum r-index and the ratio of longest and shortest chromosomes in their respective complements. C. acutifolius (sect. Frutocosa) is distinct in having a very low ratio (1.44) between the longest and the shortest chromosomes, while in C. albicans, C. goensis, C. scarabaeoides (sect. Cantharospermum) there is no chromosome pair with r-index >2.0. C. mollis and C. volubilis (sect. Volubilis) show similarity with regard to ratio between the longest and the shortest chromosomes and a distinct chromosome pair with an arm ratio of 2.7 and C. platycarpus is distinct (sect. Rhynchosoides) in having the smallest ratio (1.36) between the longest and the shortest chromosomes. 4C DNA amounts in Cajanus and Rhynchosia vary between 3.28 pg to 11.69 pg and 4.92 pg to 11.13 pg respectively, while in Dunbaria, Flemingia and Paracalyx these vary between 4.70 and 7:06 pg. In the genus Cajanus karyotypic features and 4C DNA amounts agree with the sectional classification and bring out a close relationship between C. cajan and C. cajanifolius. This is supported by studies based on seed protein patterns, isozyme analysis, trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitor patterns, RFLP and RAPD data and crossability relationships. A clear relation between DNA amount and abnormalities effecting the extent of pairing and recombination in interspecific hybrids shows the importance of this study in developing future breeding programme involving C. cajan and its wild relatives that are of potential value.     

Faculty positions:Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications     

Effect of some fungicide seed treatments on the survival of Bradyrhizobium japonicum and on the nodulation and yield of soybean [Glycine max. (L) Merr.]

Several commercial fungicide seed treatments were evaluated for their possible effect on the survival of Bradyrhizobium japonicum on seeds and on the nodulation and yield of soybeans in a greenhouse and a field experiment. quinolate Pro (carbendazim and oxine copper), Vitavax 200FF (carboxin and thiram), and Monceren (pencycuron) had a small effect or no effect on the survival of B. japonicum and on the nodulation and yield of soybeans. They can thus be considered compatible with soybean seed inoculation. Germipro UFB (carbendazim and iprodione), Apron 35J (metalaxyl), and Tachigaren (hymexazol) decreased B. japonicum survival and the nodulation and yield of soybeans and thus cannot be considered compatible with soybean seed inoculation.     

Einfluss der düngungsmethoden auf die entwicklung von zuckerrübenkrankheiten

Während neunjähriger (1994-2002) Untersuchungen in der Versuchsanstalt Ba?cyny (Fahlerde, Fall-Gleyboden, ausgebildet aus leichtem Lehmboden) wurde der Befall mit Krankheiten an der Zuckerrübe in Abhängigkeit von der Düngungsmethode bewertet. Folgende Methoden wurden angewendet: A - Mineraldünger, B - Stalldung und Mineraldünger, C - Stroh-, Gründung und Mineraldünger, D - Kompostdünger und Biopräparate (ökologische Düngung). Auf den Objekten A, B, C wurden bei konstanter Phosphor-Kalium-Düngung die Stickstoffgaben von 0 bis 180 kg.ha^?1 differenziert. Auf dem ökologischen Objekt D ohne Mineraldünger wurden statt Stickstoff die Biopräparate P₅₀₀ und P₅₀₁ verabreicht. Der geringste Befall von Krankheiten wurde an der Zuckerrübe auf jenem Objekt festgestellt, das mit Kompost und den Biopräparaten gedüngt worden war. Im Rahmen der konventionellen Düngungsmethoden wurde allgemein die höchste Intensität der Krankheiten an der mit Stroh, Gründung und Mineraldünger gedüngten Zuckerrübe beobachtet. Ausnahmen von dieser Regel bildete das Vorkommen von echtem Mehltau und Keimlingsfäule. Auf den Objekten A, B, C nahm die Intensität der Krankheiten mit der Steigerung der Stickstoffgabe zu. Auch die auf Objekt D verabreichten Biopräparate stimulierten die Entwicklung der Krankheiten. The effect of various fertilization methods on the diseases of sugar beet was estimated on the basis of nine-year studies (1994-2002) conducted in the Experimental Production Farm in Ba?cyny on loess-based, sedimentary-gley, light-clay soil. The following fertilization methods were applied: A - mineral fertilization, B - mineral and manure fertilization, C - straw, green manure and mineral fertilization, D - ecological compost and biodynamic preparations fertilization. In the objects A, B and C fertilized with phosphorus and potassium, various doses of nitrogen ranging from 0 to 180 kg/ha^?1 were used. In the ecological object D, where mineral fertilization was not used, biodynamic preparations P₅₀₀ and P₅₀₁ were applied instead of nitrogen. The lowest ratio of the diseases of sugar beet was observed in the object fertilized with the compost and biodynamic preparations. In view of the conventional fertilization methods, generally the highest incidence of diseases was noted in the sugar beet fertilized with straw, green manure and mineral fertilizers. The exception was the occurrence of powdery mildew and the black leg. In objects A, B and C the incidence of the diseases increased with the increase in nitrogen doses. The applied biodynamical preparations in the object D stimulated the development of diseases too.     

Prospects for control of Pythium damping-off of lettuce with Trichoderma,Gliocladium and Enterobacter spp.

Summary Damping-off of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) caused by Pythium ultimum was studied in pots containing a non-sterile potting mix in the glasshouse. Fifty P. ultimum sporangia g^-1 compost reduced the plant stand to 15% and shoot dry weight to 18%, but this reduction was totally prevented by applying Trichoderma harzianum at 2×10⁵ viable propagules g^-1 potting mix. Gliocladium virens and Enterobacter cloacae also alleviated the damping-off. E. cloacae did not adversely affect the action of the fungal antagonists. The co-existence of the bacterial and fungal antagonists was revealed on the root surface and inner surface of the testa by scanning electron microscopy, indicating the compatibility of the biocontrol agents.