Phaeosphaeria sp.HD-06菌株对马唐的致病性分析及初步鉴定

为了得到能够有效抑制马唐Digitaria sanguinalis生长的生防微生物,在农田采集马唐种子,进行萌发试验,观察种子的萌发状况,从发病的种子和马唐幼苗基部分离致病菌,通过形态学观察以及ITS序列分析对致病菌进行鉴定。结果从罹病的马唐幼苗基部分离得到一株致病菌HD-06,该菌株的发酵液用水稀释至60%浓度时,对马唐种子的萌发抑制率和幼苗发病率均达到100%,这说明菌株HD-06对马唐有较好的生物防治作用。根据其形态学特点及ITS序列分析结果,鉴定菌株HD-06为暗球腔菌属Phaeosphaeria的真菌。这些结果为深入研究其对马唐的防治作用奠定了基础。     

Plant growth inhibitors in turmeric (Curcuma longa) and their effects on Bidens pilosa

Turmeric (Curcuma spp.) has numerous biological activities, including anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal and insecticidal properties. Here, we evaluated the plant growth‐inhibitory activities of two cultivars of Curcuma longa (C. longa ; Ryudai gold and Okinawa ukon) against radish, cress, lettuce and Bidens pilosa (B. pilosa ). The methanol extracts of both turmeric varieties inhibited the seed germination and seedling growth of all the tested plants. Ryudai gold had a significantly higher inhibitory effect on the seed germination and root and shoot growth of the plants than Okinawa ukon. Therefore, Ryudai gold was chosen for the isolation of plant growth‐inhibitory compounds using a silica gel column and high‐performance liquid chromatography. The structural identification of the compounds was carried out using ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. The growth inhibitors were identified as four curcuminoids; dihydrobisdemethoxycurcumin ( 1 ), bisdemethoxycurcumin ( 2 ), demethoxycurcumin ( 3 ) and curcumin ( 4 ). The IC₅₀ of the curcuminoids against the root and shoot growth of B. pilosa ranged from 8.7 ± 1.7 to 12.9 ± 1.8 and from 15.5 ± 1.8 to 38.9 ± 2.8 μmol L^?1, respectively. Compound 1 showed the lowest IC₅₀ against the root and shoot growth of B. pilosa . These results suggested that Ryudai gold has a potential growth‐inhibitory effect against B. pilosa .     

Persistent,symptomless, systemic,and seed-borne infection of lettuce by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Botrytis cinerea</Emphasis>

Experiments are presented which show that Botrytis cinerea, the cause of grey mould disease, is often present in symptomless lettuce plants as a systemic, endophytic, infection which may arise from seed. The fungus was isolated on selective media from surface-sterilised sections of roots, stem pieces and leaf discs from symptomless plants grown in a conventional glasshouse and in a spore-free air-flow provided by an isolation propagator. The presence of B. cinerea was confirmed by immuno-labelling the tissues with the Botrytis-specific monoclonal antibody BC-12.CA4. As plants grew, infection spread from the roots to stems and leaves. Surface-sterilisation of seeds reduced the number of infected symptomless plants. Artificial infection of seedlings with dry conidia increased the rate of infection in some experiments. Selected isolates were genetically finger-printed using microsatellite loci. This confirmed systemic spread of the inoculating isolates but showed that other isolates were also present and that single plants hosted multiple isolates. This shows that B. cinerea commonly grows in lettuce plants as an endophyte, as has already been shown for Primula. If true for other hosts, the endophytic phase may be as important a component of the species population as the aggressive necrotrophic phase.     

Implications of bacterial contaminated seed lots and endophytic colonization by Pseudomonas fuscovaginae on rice establishment

The economic impact of seedborne bacterial diseases on rice production provides a major motivation for research on seed health. This paper reports on the endophytic growth of a rifampicin‐marked strain of the seedborne rice pathogen Pseudomonas fuscovaginae. The bacterium was found in most tested seeds indicating that, even without visible discolouration, seed transmission is possible. Crushed discoloured seeds contained more bacterial cells than did non‐crushed discoloured seeds. These bacteria were released during seed soaking, contaminating clean seed and lowering seed germination. Cells of a rifampicin‐resistant strain of P. fuscovaginae, which had been inoculated onto rice seeds, were subsequently recovered from different growth stages and from different rice tissues, thereby indicating endophytic colonization. These results have implications for seedling establishment, as symptomless seeds do not assure disease‐free seeds, and the presence of seedborne bacteria results in poor germination and poor seedling establishment. Elimination of seedborne bacteria by soaking in sodium hypochlorite can increase seed germination. This could be used in developing control strategies, and, if practised regularly, reduce entry of seedborne disease‐causing organisms into crops, resulting in lower disease pressure.     

Synthesis and herbicidal potential of substituted aurones

BACKGROUND: With the objective of exploring the herbicidal activity of substituted aurones, a series of 4,6‐disubstituted and 4,5,6‐trisubstituted aurones were synthesised, and their herbicidal activities against Brassica campestris L. and Echinochloa crusgalli (L.) Beauv. were evaluated in laboratory bioassays. Effects of some of the compounds were evaluated on seed germination. The most active compounds in the laboratory were evaluated in the greenhouse. RESULTS: The compounds were characterised by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and HRMS; some of them were further identified by IR. A (Z)‐configuration was assigned to the aurones, based on spectroscopic and crystallographic data. Bioassay results of root growth showed that the aurones had a moderate herbicidal activity against the dicotyledonous plant Brassica campestris. (Z)‐2‐Phenylmethylene‐4,6‐dimethoxy‐3(2H)‐benzofuranone(6o) was the most active compound, with 81.3 and 88.5% inhibition at 10 and 100 µg ml^?1 respectively, equal to the activity of mesotrione. Some of the aurones possessed some inhibition of germination on several plant species. For glasshouse tests, the substituted aurones had lower herbicidal activity than metolachlor and mesotrione. CONCLUSION: It is possible that aurone derivatives, which possess structures different from those of the commercial herbicides, may become novel lead compounds for the development of herbicides against dicotyledonous weeds with further structure modification. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Emerging foliar and soil‐borne pathogens of leafy vegetable crops: a possible threat to Europe

Italy is one of the leading countries for the production and consumption of ready‐to‐eat salads. This has led to a steady increase in the area used over the last decade for the growth of leafy vegetables under intensive systems. The recent new diseases that affect lettuce, wild and cultivated rocket, lamb's lettuce, spinach and basil are reported here: Plectosphaerella cucumerina on wild rocket, endive and lamb's lettuce, Fusarium equiseti on wild and cultivated rocket and lettuce, Myrothecium verrucaria on spinach and wild rocket, Myrothecium roridum on lamb's lettuce, Allophoma tropica on lettuce and Alternaria sp. on basil and rocket are among the new foliar pathogens in Italy. Among the soil‐borne pathogens, Pythium aphanidermatum, Pythium irregulare and Pythium Cluster B2a have recently been isolated in Italy on spinach and Swiss chard, lamb's lettuce and lettuce, while Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae, which causes lettuce wilt, is gradually spreading to new countries. Some of the new pathogens have been found to be transmitted by seed and typical of tropical climate, and are thus favoured by the increases in temperature linked to climate change. The globalization of markets, climate change and intensive cultivation are among the factors responsible for the proliferation and spread of some of these new pathogens that are ‘alien’ to Italian production systems.     

植物内生枯草芽孢杆菌Em7菌株对葡萄灰霉病菌的抑菌活性

通过室内皿内对峙抑菌试验、分生孢子萌发抑制试验、离体果实接种试验以及电镜技术,研究测定了分离自小麦根部的植物内生枯草芽孢杆菌Em7菌液对葡萄灰霉病菌Botrytiscinerea Pers.的抑制作用及抑菌机理。结果表明:用Em7菌液处理葡萄灰霉病菌后,在PDA培养基上形成了明显的抑菌圈,直径达2.81 cm;菌液对分生孢子萌发的抑制率达到88.65%;经Em7菌液处理后,离体果实病情指数明显低于空白对照,相对防治效果达到78.92%。电镜观察发现,处理组菌丝生长异常,体表凹凸不平,局部膨大成结或缢缩,分枝变多,菌丝体内液泡增多,细胞壁增厚,细胞膜透性发生变化。表明植物内生枯草芽孢杆菌Em7菌株对葡萄灰霉病菌有良好的抑制作用,并且可以有效控制葡萄灰霉病的发生。     

Chemical constituents of the essential oils of wild oat and crabgrass and their effects on the growth and allelochemical production of wheat

The interference of allelopathic weeds with crop plants might be mediated by volatile allelochemicals. In this study, the essential oil constituents of two weeds, wild oat (Avena fatua) and crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis), were investigated in relation to their effects on the growth and allelochemical production of wheat (Triticum aestivum). Subsequently, by means of gas chromatography and gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry, 52 compounds were identified from the crabgrass essential oil, particularly a signaling compound called methyl jasmonate, while 28 constituents were detected in the wild oat essential oil. Both essential oils were rich in terpenoids and inhibited the growth of wheat in air, filter paper and soil media but their inhibition varied with the growth medium and the weed species. In both the air and the filter paper media, there were not significant differences in the dry weight of wheat between the wild oat and the crabgrass essential oils. However, there was a greater reduction in the dry weight of the wheat root and plant with the wild oat essential oil than with the crabgrass essential oil in the soil medium. Furthermore, the production of the allelochemical, 2,4‐dihydroxy‐7‐methoxy‐1,4‐benzoxazin‐3‐one, in wheat was induced by the essential oils. The results suggest that allelopathic interference with wheat by wild oat and crabgrass affects not only the biomass allocation, but also the allelochemical production, of wheat.     

苹果树皮内生真菌的分离及其对腐烂病的生物防治潜力

为了明确苹果树皮中内生真菌的种类及其对苹果树腐烂病菌的抑制作用,对25年生富士苹果健康树皮中的内生真菌进行了分离和初步鉴定,并通过室内抑菌试验和田间保护作用试验测定其内生真菌对苹果树腐烂病菌的抑制作用。分离到的126株内生真菌分属于13个属,主枝中分离到的内生真菌的种类和数量较多;对峙试验中对苹果树腐烂病菌的抑菌率在40%以上的有24株,其中87.5%的菌株为链格孢属真菌。Al 6的培养滤液对腐烂病菌菌丝生长抑制作用较强,抑制率为83.76%;Al 58对其孢子萌发抑制作用较大,抑制率为82.42%;Al 67产生的挥发物质对腐烂病菌菌丝生长的抑制作用较大,为24.41%。田间试验结果显示,用拮抗性内生真菌预先占位接种苹果树枝干,能有效抑制腐烂病菌的侵入和病斑的扩展,Al 107的抑制作用最强。     

Antagonistic activity against rice blast disease and elicitation of host-defence response capability of an endophytic Streptomyces albidoflavus OsiLf-2

Rice blast, caused by the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, can result in notable yield losses in rice production. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of a rice endophytic isolate, Streptomyces albidoflavus OsiLf-2, on the control of rice blast and the possible mechanisms involved. In vitro assays displayed a variety of antagonistic effects of OsiLf-2 against different physiological races of M. oryzae, with peak mycelial growth inhibition ranging from 74.1% to 83.0%. In vivo tests of OsiLf-2 showed 18.0% and 19.6% reduction in disease index in greenhouse and field conditions, respectively. The stable active metabolites in its cell-free culture filtrate inhibited the mycelial growth, spore germination and appressorial formation of M. oryzae in a dose-dependent manner. They also possessed strong antifungal capacities toward various phytopathogens in vitro. OsiLf-2 secreted multiple antimicrobial compounds, cell wall degradation enzymes, siderophore, plant hormones, and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase, which might function in direct or indirect resistance to M. oryzae. In addition, a variety of defence responses were induced in OsiLf-2-treated rice, including hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) accumulation, callose deposition, defence-related enzymes activation, and elevated expression of salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) pathways genes, which might contribute in resisting pathogen attack. The significant biological control activity and host defence-stimulation ability of OsiLf-2 suggest that this endophytic actinobacterial strain could be a promising candidate in the management of rice blast disease.     

冬青卫矛内生放线菌YDG17菌株发酵液抑菌活性研究

从冬青卫矛植株中筛选得到一株内生链霉菌YDG17,其发酵液对多种植物病原真菌有较强的抑制作用。室内生物测定结果表明,YDG17菌株发酵液对供试的11种植物病原真菌菌丝生长均有一定的抑制作用,其中对小麦赤霉病菌Fusarium graminearum、番茄灰霉病菌Fulvia fulvum和番茄早疫病菌Alternaria solani的抑制作用最强,EC50值分别为259.98、336.13和100.72 mg/L;对供试的3种植物病原真菌孢子萌发也均有一定的抑制作用,其中对番茄灰霉病菌孢子萌发的抑制作用最强,EC50值为87.84 mg/L。离体子叶法测定结果表明,发酵液原液对番茄灰霉病的保护效果为97.62%,治疗效果为79.63%。盆栽试验结果表明,发酵液原液对番茄灰霉病的保护效果为71.34%,治疗效果为64.23%。捷克八溶剂系统纸色谱测定结果表明,该发酵液的主要活性物质为碱性水溶性抗生素。选用弱酸性离子交换树脂吸附法对YDG17发酵液活性成分进行了初步分离,并对其活性馏分进行ESI-MS/MS分析,表明其活性物质主要为链丝菌素类化合物,该类化合物为首次从植物内生菌中分离得到。     

Factors affecting the seed germination and seedling emergence of muskweed (Myagrum perfoliatum)

Myagrum perfoliatum is a noxious broad‐leaved weed in western Iranian farming systems. A better understanding of the timing of seedling emergence would facilitate the development of better control strategies for this weed. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the effects of different factors on muskweed seed germination. Only 2.8% of the seeds of this species, which are encapsulated in siliques, germinated by, while the seeds that had been removed from the siliques had a 50% germination rate. The immersion of muskweed fruits in concentrated sulfuric acid for 110 min was the best treatment for promoting germination. Gibberellic acid stimulated the germination of the naked seeds by 29.1%, potassium nitrate (40 mmol L^‐1) increased the germination rate to 71%, while higher concentrations of potassium nitrate inhibited germination. The optimum germination temperature for the naked seeds was 20/10°C (day/night) and light was not required for germination. No seedling emerged when the seeds were buried 6 cm deep. The seeds were sensitive to both osmotic and salinity stress, but they germinated to 46–49% over a pH range of 4–10. The results of this study revealed that the seeds of M . perfoliatum have physiological dormancy and that it is slowly broken via after‐ripening. However, the fruit wall can prevent germination after physiological dormancy is broken. Thus, this species has the potential to form a persistent seed bank because of the presence of the fruit wall.     

Effects of some chemical factors,prechilling treatments and interactions on the seed dormancy‐breaking of two Papaver species

Seed dormancy is a common strategy of many plants to survive in natural and agricultural ecosystems. This study examined the effects of some chemical factors, including gibberellic acid and potassium nitrate, the prechilling temperature, duration and conditions and the light regimes on the seed dormancy‐breaking of Papaver rhoeas L. and Papaver dubium L. The results showed that all the tested seed dormancy‐breaking treatments significantly stimulated the germination of the two Papaver species. The seed germination was significantly influenced in relation to the seeds that were treated with 0–1250 p.p.m. of gibberellic acid. The maximum germination was observed in P. rhoeas L. at 750 p.p.m. and in Pa. dubium L. at 500 p.p.m. in the light/dark regime. There was a significant increase in the germination with an increase in the potassium nitrate concentration. The greatest germination was achieved at the lowest potassium nitrate concentration (0.5 g L^?1) in the light/dark regime. The wet prechilling was more effective than the dry prechilling in the dormancy‐breaking of both P. rhoeas L. and Pa. dubium L. The highest germination percentage was found in the wet prechilling condition after 45 days' prechilling duration. The combination of gibberellic acid and potassium nitrate was more successful than their separate application in the stimulation of germination in both Papaver species. Among the combined treatments of prechilling and gibberellic acid, the highest germination of P. rhoeas L. was recorded in the seeds that were treated with wet prechilling for 45 days with 750 p.p.m. gibberellic acid, while in Pa. dubium L., the maximum germination was recorded with wet prechilling for 45 days with 500 p.p.m. of gibberellic acid.     

Contribution of militarine and dactylorhin A to the plant growth‐inhibitory activity of a weed‐suppressing orchid,Bletilla striata

The methanol extract of Bletilla striata, an ornamental orchid in eastern Asia, exhibited plant growth‐inhibitory activity. It was purified by continuous chromatography, based on the inhibitory activity against the growth of lettuce seedlings, resulting in two glycosidic compounds, militarine and dactylorhin A. The EC₅₀ values of militarine and dactylorhin A against the radicle elongation of the lettuce seedlings were 0.28 and 0.88 mmol L^?1, respectively. The amount of militarine and dactylorhin A in the methanol extract of the aerial part of B. striata was calculated to be 5.6 and 7.5 mg g^?1 fresh weight, respectively. The inhibitory activity of militarine and its content in the methanol extract revealed that the plant growth‐inhibitory activity of the extract of B. striata was mainly related to militarine. The inhibitory activity of militarine against the growth of Italian ryegrass and timothy were of the same level as that of lettuce.     

当归内生真菌抗植物病原菌的活性研究

[目的]从当归内生真菌中筛选抗小麦赤霉病菌、番茄早疫病菌、番茄灰霉病菌、水稻纹枯病菌等植物病原菌的有益菌株,并筛选代谢产物中的抑菌活性部位.[方法]采用平板拮抗法对抗性菌株进行初步筛选,采用抑制菌丝生长法以及抑制孢子萌发法筛选有益内生真菌代谢产物中的抑菌活性部位.[结果]抗小麦赤霉病菌、番茄早疫病菌的内生真菌较多,分别占24.3％和28.6％.对小麦赤霉病菌、番茄早疫病菌、番茄灰霉病菌以及水稻纹枯病菌生长抑制作用较强的内生真菌包括5个属8个菌株,其中6个菌株只对1种病原菌菌丝生长有抑制作用.此外,对4种植物病原真菌孢子萌发具有抑制作用的内生真菌超过20％,其中内生真菌Myxormia sp.2和Myxormia sp.4的提取物对4种植物病原真菌孢子萌发的抑制作用显著,抑制率达到90％以上.通过对有益内生真菌代谢产物的分析表明,乙酸乙酯提取部位对植物病原真菌菌丝体和孢子萌发的抑制作用相对较强.[结论]具有抗菌活性的当归内生真菌及其次生代谢产物具有丰富的多样性.     

Measuring cysteine biosynthesis activity from serine in extracts from sorghum, corn and grass weeds, and their metolachlor susceptibility

In vitro assay procedures for measuring the activity of cysteine biosynthesis from serine (CBS), which is a coupled reaction catalyzed by serine acetyltransferase and cysteine synthase, were developed using crude extracts from sorghum shoots. Cysteine biosynthesis from serine activity was dependent on acetyl‐CoA concentrations (up to 1.5 mmol L^?1), serine (at least up to 20 mmol L^?1) and sulfide (up to 0.25 mmol L^?1), respectively, and was proportional to the protein concentration in the reaction mixture below 0.4 mg mL^?1. The reaction rate was 6.6 nmol min^?1 per mg of protein during the first 5 min, but increased to 45.6 nmol min^?1 per mg of protein between 30 and 45 min after reaction initiation. Sorghum had the highest CBS total activity (222.4 nmol min^?1 per g of fresh weight), and large crabgrass had the lowest CBS total activity (4.7 nmol min^?1 per g of fresh weight) when CBS activity in shoots was extracted from sorghum, corn, johnsongrass, barnyardgrass, goosegrass, green foxtail and large crabgrass. Similar results were obtained for CBS specific activity (nmol min^?1 per mg of protein). There was no correlation between total CBS activity and susceptibility to metolachlor; however, when corn was excluded, a correlation of R² = 0.690 was found. Flurazole seed treatment (1.25 g per kg of seed) conferred metolachlor resistance by sorghum, and enhanced total CBS activity and non‐protein thiol content by 27 and 61%, respectively. The increase in thiol content presumably contributed to metolachlor tolerance in sorghum. From these results, the difference in CBS activity partially contributes to the selectivity to metolachlor among certain grass species, and to the safening action of flurazole by increasing thiol content.     

Suppression of seed-borne Alternaria arborescens and growth enhancement of wheat with biorational fungicides

Alternaria spp. are among the major fungal contaminants of wheat grain under postharvest and storage conditions, where A. arborescens was recently detected as a new member of this complex in Argentina causing black point. The aim of this study was to assess the potential of some biorational agents to control A. arborescens and their plant growth promoting of wheat. Seed treatments with spore suspensions of Trichoderma harzianum and Eppicoccum nigrum, extracts from Lippia alba and garlic, sodium bicarbonate, salicylic acid (SA), potassium chloride and dibasic sodium phosphate (SP) were applied to grains of wheat cultivar BIOINTA 1004 before their inoculation with the pathogen. After 7 days, seed germination and infection, necrotic symptoms on emerged seedlings and fresh weight were evaluated. Remarkable results were obtained with L. alba, SA and SP treatments that reduced symptoms markedly compared with the control. Interestingly, necrosis of radicles was significantly reduced by the application of all treatments tested. Moreover, fresh weight of seedlings was significantly increased with the application of the two antagonists, diluted garlic juice and the three tested salts in comparison with controls. Therefore, a positive role as growth promoters can be elucidated. It is concluded that compounds here tested have potential as ecofriendly alternatives to control seed-borne Alternaria fungi of wheat.     

一株银杏内生真菌代谢产物抗菌活性初步研究

从浙江长兴采集的银杏茎中分离到一株内生真菌,编号为1028。本文对其产生的代谢产物进行了抑菌活性的初步研究,生测结果表明:离体条件下发酵液对番茄早疫病菌、黄瓜枯萎病菌、菜豆炭疽病菌、葡萄炭疽病菌、水稻纹枯病菌、黄瓜立枯病菌均有较强的抑制作用,对不同病原菌的抑制率分别为:66.7%、48.3%、64.6%、36.5%、57.1%、23.0%。抑菌活性成分在80℃以下趋于稳定,pH为7～8时抑菌效果最强。     

海洋生境贝莱斯芽孢杆菌TCS001的鉴定及抑真菌活性

为研究海洋生境芽孢杆菌TCS001的分类地位和抑菌活性,通过形态和生理生化特征观察,并结合gyrA序列同源性分析对菌株进行了鉴定;通过平板对峙培养法测定了菌株TCS001对多种植物病原真菌的抑菌谱;采用菌丝生长速率法和凹玻片法,测定了不同浓度TCS001菌株发酵滤液对靶标菌黄瓜灰霉病菌Botrytis cinerea菌丝生长和孢子萌发的影响。结果显示:该菌株为贝莱斯芽孢杆菌Bacillus velezensis,其对6种供试病原菌均有一定的抑制效果,其中对黄瓜灰霉病菌的抑制率最高,达87.66%。不同稀释倍数下,TCS001发酵滤液对黄瓜灰霉病菌均有一定的抑制作用,其中,稀释5倍时对菌丝生长和孢子萌发的抑制率最高,分别为96.24%和98.05%,稀释20倍时抑制率也均达90%以上。形态学观察发现,TCS001发酵滤液可导致黄瓜灰霉病菌孢子萌发芽管中间或顶端膨大畸形。研究表明,海洋生境贝莱斯芽孢杆菌TCS001极具开发为微生物农药的潜能。     

Non‐pathogenic rhizosphere bacteria belonging to the genera Rhizorhapis and Sphingobium provide specific control of lettuce corky root disease caused by species of the same bacterial genera

Lettuce corky root (CR) is caused by bacteria in the genera Rhizorhapis, Sphingobium, Sphingopyxis and Rhizorhabdus of the family Sphingomonadaceae. Members of this family are common rhizosphere bacteria, some pathogenic to lettuce. Sixty‐eight non‐pathogenic isolates of bacteria obtained from lettuce roots were tested for control of CR caused by Rhizorhapis suberifaciens CA1^T and FL1, and Sphingobium mellinum WI4^T. In two initial screenings, 10 isolates significantly reduced CR induced by one or more pathogenic strains on lettuce seedlings in vermiculite, while seven non‐pathogenic isolates provided significant CR control in natural or sterilized field soil. Rhizorhapis suberifaciens FL11 was effective at controlling all pathogenic strains, but most effective against R. suberifaciens CA1^T. The other selected isolates controlled only pathogenic strains belonging to their own genus. In a greenhouse experiment, a soil drench with selected biocontrol agents (R. suberifaciens FL11, Sphingomonas sp. NY3 and S. mellinum CA16) controlled CR better than seed treatments or application of alginate pellets. In microplots infested with R. suberifaciens CA1^T, seed treatment with R. suberifaciens FL11 provided complete control and a soil drench with FL11 significantly reduced the disease. Pathogenicity tests with FL11 on 23 plant species in 10 families resulted in slight yellowing on roots of lettuce and close relatives; similar yellowing appeared on some roots of non‐inoculated lettuce plants. This research showed that biocontrol agents can be genus‐specific. Only one isolate, FL11, provided more general control of various pathogenic strains causing CR even in field soil in pots and microplots.