Isolation and characterization of rhizobacteria from composts that suppress the severity of bacterial leaf spot of radish

ABSTRACT Composts can induce systemic resistance in plants to disease. Unfortunately, the degree of resistance induced seems highly variable and the basis for this effect is not understood. In this work, only 1 of 79 potting mixes prepared with different batches of mature, stabilized composts produced from several different types of solid wastes suppressed the severity of bacterial leaf spot of radish caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. armoraciae compared with disease on plants produced in a nonamended sphagnum peat mix. An additional batch of compost-amended mix that had been inoculated with Trichoderma hamatum 382 (T(382)), which is known to induce systemic resistance in plants, also suppressed the disease. A total of 11 out of 538 rhizobacterial strains isolated from roots of radish seedlings grown in these two compostamended mixes that suppressed bacterial leaf spot were able to significantly suppress the severity of this disease when used as inoculum in the compost-amended mixes. The most effective strains were identified as Bacillus sp. based on partial sequencing of 16S rDNA. These strains were significantly less effective in reducing the severity of this disease than T(382). A combined inoculum consisting of T(382) and the most effective rhizobacterial Bacillus strain was less effective than T(382) alone. A drench applied to the potting mix with the systemic acquired resistance-inducing chemical acibenzolar-S-methyl was significantly more effective than T(382) in several, but not all tests. We conclude that systemic suppression of foliar diseases induced by compost amendments is a rare phenomenon. Furthermore, inoculation of compost-amended potting mixes with biocontrol agents such as T(382) that induce systemic resistance in plants can significantly increase the frequency of systemic disease control obtained with natural compost amendments.     

Systemic Resistance Induced by Trichoderma spp.: Interactions Between the Host, the Pathogen, the Biocontrol Agent, and Soil Organic Matter Quality

ABSTRACT Several factors affect the ability of Trichoderma spp. to provide systemic disease control. This paper focuses on the role of the substrate in which plants are grown, resistance of the host to disease, and the ability of introduced Trichoderma inoculum to spread under commercial conditions. Several reports reveal that foliar disease control provided by Trichoderma spp. is more effective on plants grown in compost-amended media compared with in lower-in-microbial-carrying-capacity sphagnum peat media. In Rhododendron spp., host resistance affects control of Phytophthora dieback provided by Trichoderma spp. For example, T. hamatum 382 (T382) significantly (P = 0.05) suppressed the disease on susceptible cv. Roseum Elegans while plant vigor was increased. The disease was not suppressed, however, on highly susceptible cvs. Aglo and PJM Elite even though the vigor of these plants was increased. Using a strain-specific polymerase chain reaction assay under commercial conditions, it was demonstrated that introduced inoculum of T382 did not spread frequently from inoculated to control compost-amended media. Other Trichoderma isolates typically are abundant in control media within days after potting unless inoculated with a specific Trichoderma isolate. Thus, the low population of isolates that can induce systemic resistance in composting and potting mix environments may explain why most compost-amended substrates do not naturally suppress foliar diseases.     

Compost and compost water extract-induced systemic acquired resistance in cucumber and Arabidopsis

ABSTRACT A biocontrol agent-fortified compost mix, suppressive to several diseases caused by soilborne plant pathogens, induced systemic acquired resistance (SAR) in cucumber against anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum orbiculare and in Arabidopsis against bacterial speck caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. maculicola KD4326. A peat mix conducive to soilborne diseases did not induce SAR. The population size of P. syringae pv. maculicola KD4326 was significantly lower in leaves of Arabidopsis plants grown in the compost mix compared to those grown in the peat mix. Autoclaving destroyed the SAR-inducing effect of the compost mix, and inoculation of the autoclaved mix with nonautoclaved compost mix or Pantoea agglomerans 278A restored the effect, suggesting the SAR-inducing activity of the compost mix was biological in nature. Topical sprays with water extract prepared from the compost mix reduced symptoms of bacterial speck and the population size of pathogenic KD4326 in Arabidopsis grown in the peat mix but not in the compost mix. The peat mix water extract applied as a spray did not control bacterial speck on plants grown in either mix. Topical sprays with salicylic acid (SA) reduced the severity of bacterial speck on plants in the peat mix but did not further reduce the severity of symptoms on plants in the compost mix. The activity of the compost water extract was heat-stable and passed through a 0.2-mum membrane filter. beta-1,3-Glucanase activity was low in cucumber plants grown in either mix, but when infected with C. orbiculare, this activity was induced to significantly higher levels in plants grown in the compost mix than in plants grown in the peat mix. Similar results were obtained for beta-D-glucuronidase (GUS) activity driven by a PR2 (beta-1,3-glucanase) gene promoter in transgenic Arabidopsis plants grown in the compost or peat mix. GUS activity was induced with topical sprays of the compost water extract or SA in plants not inoculated with the pathogen, suggesting that compost-induced disease suppression more than likely involved the potentiation of resistance responses rather than their activation and that compost-induced SAR differed from SAR induced by pathogens, SA, or compost water extract.     

Induced systemic protection against tomato late blight elicited by plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria

ABSTRACT Two strains of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), Bacillus pumilus SE34 and Pseudomonas fluorescens 89B61, elicited systemic protection against late blight on tomato and reduced disease severity by a level equivalent to systemic acquired resistance induced by Phytophthora infestans or induced local resistance by chemical inducer beta-amino butyric acid (BABA) in greenhouse assays. Germination of sporangia and zoospores of P. infestans on leaf surfaces of tomato plants treated with the two PGPR strains, pathogen, and chemical BABA was significantly reduced compared with the noninduced control. Induced protection elicited by PGPR, pathogen, and BABA were examined to determine the signal transduction pathways in three tomato lines: salicylic acid (SA)-hydroxylase transgenic tomato (nahG), ethylene insensitive mutants (Nr/Nr), and jasmonic acid insensitive mutants (def1). Results suggest that induced protection elicited by both bacilli and pseudomonad PGPR strains was SA-independent but ethylene- and jasmonic acid-dependent, whereas systemic acquired resistance elicited by the pathogen and induced local resistance by BABA were SA-dependent. The lack of colonization of tomato leaves by strain 89B61 suggests that the observed induced systemic resistance (ISR) was due to systemic protection by strain 89B61 and not attributable to a direct interaction between pathogen and biological control agent. Although strain SE34 was detected on tomato leaves, ISR mainly accounted for the systemic protection with this strain.     

植物系统性获得抗病性的产生机理和途径

坏死型病原物侵染或某些生化制剂诱导处理后,植株未受侵染或处理部位产生对随后病原物侵染的抗性,称为植物系统性获得抗性,ＳＡＲ具有抗性表现系统、持久、抗病对象广谱三大特点。坏死型病原物侵染或某些生化制剂处理后,植株受处理部位迅速产生系统性信号,经韧皮部传导到未侵染或处理部位,诱发ＳＡＲ基因表达。水杨酸是诱发ＳＡＲ的系统性信号之一。此外,上部非处理部位处于敏化状态,能更迅速有效地产生针对挑战接种病原物的     

Effect of potting mix microbial carrying capacity on biological control of rhizoctonia damping-off of radish and rhizoctonia crown and root rot of poinsettia

ABSTRACT Potting mixes prepared with dark, highly decomposed Sphagnum peat, with light, less decomposed Sphagnum peat, or with composted pine bark, all three of which were colonized by indigenous microorganisms, failed to consistently suppress Rhizoctonia damping-off of radish or Rhizoctonia crown and root rot of poinsettia. Inoculation of these mixes with Chryseobacterium gleum (C(299)R(2)) and Trichoderma hamatum 382 (T(382)) significantly reduced the severity of both diseases in the composted pine bark mix in which both biocontrol agents maintained high populations over 90 days. These microorganisms were less effective against damping-off in the light and dark peat mixes, respectively, in which populations of C(299)R(2) declined. In contrast, crown and root rot, a disease that is severe late in the crop, was suppressed in all three types of mixes. High populations of T(382) in all three mixes late during the cropping cycle may have contributed to control of this disease.     

Biological and molecular characterization of the response of tomato plants treated with Trichoderma koningiopsis

Tomato-Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. radicis-lycopersici pathosystem was used to study induced systemic resistance elicited by Trichoderma koningiopsis (Th003) using the split root model. The ability of the antagonist to promote plant growth was also established. Stem colonization by the pathogen was significantly reduced in treated plants. The induction of resistance was enhanced 6 days after elicitation and when the antagonist was used in a concentration of 10⁵ conidia per ml. Th003 application in seed priming and nursery significantly stimulated plant growth. Gene expression induced by Th003 was evaluated using the tomato TOM1 microarray. Plant treatment with T. koningiopsis affected mRNA levels of 45 genes: 41 in roots and 4 in leaves. Of particular interest was the induction of genes involved in the jasmonic and ethylene transduction pathways found in the microarray analysis and qRT-PCR, which suggest a temporary increment of defense related gene expression response to T. koningiopsis Th003.     

超量表达益母草种子抗菌蛋白提高番茄的抗病性

为了验证来自益母草Leonums japonicusHoutt种子的抗菌蛋白基因LjAMP1和LjAMP2对植物病害的广谱抗性,用根癌农杆菌Agrobacterium tumefaciens介导法,将其分别转入台湾圣女番茄品种。结果显示,利用黄萎病菌毒素浸泡番茄离体枝条,处理24h,空载转基因对照和非转基因再生植株枝条全部萎蔫,而LjAMP1和LjAMP2转基因番茄T0代枝条未出现萎蔫的株系比率分别为11.11%和6.25%;用离体叶片接种菌块,分别对T0代抗或耐黄萎病菌毒素的T1代株系接种早疫病菌,接种10天,空载转基因对照和非转基因再生植株的病情指数达到100,而LjAMP1和LjAMP2转基因番茄病情指数最低的株系分别为17.5和10.0,表明转基因番茄能同时提高对黄萎病菌毒素和早疫病的抗性;进而用叶盘法检测转基因植株对番茄青枯病菌的抑制作用,结果显示对真菌病害抗性强的转基因植株叶片对青枯病菌的抑菌圈更大。转基因番茄抗病鉴定结果表明,来自益母草种子的LjAMP1和LjAMP2基因对植物病害具有广谱抗性。     

球孢白僵菌定殖提高番茄对灰霉病抗性及其作用机理

为明确球孢白僵菌Beauveria bassiana定殖对番茄植株抗病性的影响及作用机理,采用灌根法将球孢白僵菌芽生孢子悬浮液接种于番茄植株内,并通过人工接种灰霉菌Botrytis cinerea评价球孢白僵菌定殖后番茄对灰霉病的抗性水平;检测灰霉菌胁迫下番茄植株不同位置叶片内球孢白僵菌的相对含量;测定番茄叶片内草酸氧化酶（oxalate oxidase,OXO）、几丁质酶（chitinase,CHI）和ATP合成酶（ATP synthase,atpA）3种抗病相关基因的表达量。结果表明,球孢白僵菌定殖能够提高番茄植株对灰霉病的抗性,接种灰霉菌第5天,番茄植株发病率、病斑直径和病情指数分别下降了61.6%、41.4%和26.4%;在灰霉菌胁迫下番茄植株内球孢白僵菌偏好于在病原菌感染位置定向聚集,并且引起植物抗病基因OXO、CHI和atpA的表达量上调。表明球孢白僵菌能通过内生定殖与植物互作提高植物抗病性,在植物病害生物防治领域有较大应用潜力。     

Induced systemic resistance in Trichoderma harzianum T39 biocontrol of Botrytis cinerea

Biocontrol of Botrytis cinerea with Trichoderma spp. is generally believed to result from direct interaction of the biocontrol agent with the pathogen or from a Trichoderma-induced change in environmental conditions that affects B. cinerea development. In this work we provide arguments for the participation of induced plant defence in T. harzianum T39 control of B. cinerea. In tomato, lettuce, pepper, bean and tobacco, T. harzianum T39 application at sites spatially separated from the B. cinerea inoculation resulted in a 25–100%percnt; reduction of grey mould symptoms, caused by a delay or suppression of spreading lesion formation. Given the spatial separation of both micro-organisms, this effect was attributed to the induction of systemic resistance by T. harzianum T39. The observation that in bean the effect of T. harzianum T39 was similar to that of the rhizobacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa KMPCH, a reference strain for the induction of systemic resistance, confirmed this hypothesis. Since B. cinerea control on tobacco leaves sprayed with T. harzianum T39 was similar to the control on leaves from T. harzianum T39 soil-treated plants, induction of plant defence might also participate in biocontrol on treated leaves.     

The Internal Glycine-Rich Motif and Cysteine Suppress Several Effects of the HpaG(Xooc) Protein in Plants

ABSTRACT HpaG(Xooc), produced by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola, is a member of harpin group of proteins that stimulate plant growth, hypersensitive cell death (HCD), and pathogen defense. The protein contains two copies of the glycine-rich motif (GRM), a characteristic of harpins, and a cysteine, which is absent in other harpins. Genetic modification generated the pro-tein mutants HpaG(Xooc)MG (MG) by deleting GRMs and HpaG(Xooc)C47T (C47T) by replacing cysteine with threonine. When applied to tobacco plants, C47T and MG were 1.2- and 1.7-fold stronger, respectively, than HpaG(Xooc) in inducing HCD, which occurred consistently with expression of the marker genes hin1 and hsr203. The proteins markedly alleviated infection of tobacco by Tobacco mosaic virus and Arabidopsis and tomato by Pseudomonas syringae. Treating tobacco plants with HpaG(Xooc), C47T, and MG decreased the viral infection by 58, 81, and 92%, respectively. In Arabidopsis and tomato plants treated with HpaG(Xooc), C47T, or MG, P. syringae multiplication was inhibited; bacterial population multiplied in 5 days in these plants were ca. 160-, 1,260-, or 15,860-fold smaller than that in control plants. So pathogen defense was induced in both plants. Defense-related genes Chia5, NPR1, and PR-1a were expressed consistently with resistance. In response to HpaG(Xooc), C47T, and MG, aerial parts and roots of tomato plants increased growth by 15 and 53%, 25 and 77%, and 46 and 106%, relative to controls. The expansin gene, EXP2, involved in the cell expansion and plant growth was expressed coordinately with plant growth promotion. These results suggest that the presence of GRM and cysteine in HpaG(Xooc) represses the effects of the protein in plants.     

The Basis for Thinopyrum-Derived Resistance to Cereal yellow dwarf virus

ABSTRACT Incorporation of Thinopyrum intermedium-derived resistance genes into improved wheat germ plasm generated a wheat substitution line (P29) which is completely resistant to Cereal yellow dwarf virus (CYDV). The undetectable CYDV titer in P29 led many to conclude that resistance prevented viral replication. To determine whether CYDV replication or movement is inhibited, we examined inoculated leaves for replication and uninoculated leaves for systemic spread. CYDV subgenomic RNA, produced only during replication, was found within the inoculated area of P29 and T. intermedium leaves, demonstrating that viral replication occurred. Absence of CYDV from uninoculated, newly emerging leaves of inoculated P29 and T. intermedium plants indicated resistance via inhibition of viral systemic infection. Resistance was not effective if P29 was inoculated with 50 to 100 viruliferous aphids per plant at the first-leaf stage or younger, resulting in a systemic spread of CYDV. As these infected P29 seedlings continued to grow, the resistance phenotype was recovered. Our data suggested that T. intermedium-derived resistance to CYDV was primarily dosage dependent and could be developmentally regulated if the amount of inoculum was large enough.     

枯草芽孢杆菌PTS-394诱导番茄对灰霉病的系统抗性

本文研究了枯草芽孢杆菌PTS-394对番茄的防御相关酶活性、抗病信号转导通路的标志基因表达的诱导情况和诱导抗病性对灰霉病的防治效果。结果显示,菌株PTS-394灌根番茄后,在24~72 h内番茄顶端叶片中PAL、PPO、POX、LOX的活性都有不同程度的持续增加,且72 h时达到最高峰值,随后在96 h下降,与对照相比差异显著;此外,番茄抗病信号通路节点基因NPR1和水杨酸(SA)信号通路激发的防卫基因PR-1a,在24~72 h得到了显著持续高表达。以上结果表明,利用菌株PTS-394灌根番茄后,能够诱导植株产生系统抗病性。菌株PTS-394灌根番茄后48 h,离体叶片挑战接种番茄灰霉菌,结果显示,菌株PTS-394处理的番茄叶片病斑面积仅为对照处理的50%,防控效果达47.1%;温室盆栽试验显示,菌株PTS-394处理后对番茄灰霉的防治效果为58.2%。综上所述,枯草芽孢杆菌PTS-394灌根番茄后,可以触发番茄植株系统性的抗病性,增强植株免疫能力。     

Colonization and movement of GFP-labeled Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis during tomato infection

The vascular pathogen Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis is responsible for bacterial wilt and canker of tomato. Pathogenicity of this bacterium is dependent on plasmid-borne virulence factors and serine proteases located on the chromosomal chp/tomA pathogenicity island (PAI). In this study, colonization patterns and movement of C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis during tomato infection was examined using a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled strain. A plasmid expressing GFP in C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis was constructed and found to be stable in planta for at least 1 month. Confocal laser-scanning microscopy (CLSM) of inoculated stems showed that the pathogen extensively colonizes the lumen of xylem vessels and preferentially attaches to spiral secondary wall thickening of the protoxylem. Acropetal movement of the wild-type strain C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis NCPPB382 (Cmm382) in tomato resulted in an extensive systemic colonization of the whole plant reaching the apical region after 15 days, whereas Cmm100 (lacking the plasmids pCM1 and pCM2) or Cmm27 (lacking the chp/tomA PAI) remained confined to the area surrounding of the inoculation site. Cmm382 formed biofilm-like structures composed of large bacterial aggregates on the interior of xylem walls as observed by CLSM and scanning electron microscopy. These findings suggest that virulence factors located on the chp/tomA PAI or the plasmids are required for effective movement of the pathogen in tomato and for the formation of cellular aggregates.     

Reaction of different tomato genotypes to the bacterial speck pathogen (pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato)

Genetic tests were carried out in the greenhouse to determine whether resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato in the tomato cultivar Ontario 7710 and in the wild accession PI 126430 (Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium) was controlled by different genes. Ontario 7710 (genotype of resistance Pto/Pto), PI 126430, their F! and F2 progenies and F( x susceptible progenies were tested for resistance to the bacterial speck pathogen. No lesions appeared on inoculated leaves in plants of Ontario 7710, PI 126430 and the Fj hybrid. F2 progenies segregated for resistance (symptomless) and susceptibility (50-80 lesions per plant) at a ratio of 15:1. Plants from the cross Fj x susceptible segregated at a ratio of 3 resistant: 1 susceptible. These data indicate that the gene for resistance in PI 126430 is different from that found in Ontario 7710. The gene symbol Pto-2 is proposed for the resistance factor in PI 126430.     

Beta-cyanoalanine synthase as a molecular marker for induced resistance by fungal glycoprotein elicitor and commercial plant activators

ABSTRACT The biocontrol agent Pythium oligandrum produces glycoprotein elicitor in the cell wall fraction, designated CWP, and induces resistance to a broad range of pathogens. To understand the mechanism of CWP-induced resistance to pathogens, gene expression at the early stage of CWP treatment in tomato roots was analyzed using a cDNA array. At 4 h after CWP treatment, 144 genes were up-regulated and 99 genes were down-regulated. In the 144 up-regulated genes, nine genes exhibited about eightfold increased expression. Analysis of the response of these nine genes to three commercial plant activators indicated that a high level of one gene, beta-cyanoalanine synthase gene (LeCAS) encoding hydrogen cyanide (HCN) detoxification enzyme, was stably induced in tomato roots by such treatment. However, expression of LeCAS was not significantly induced in tomato roots at 4 h by abiotic stresses, whereas only a very low level of induction of such expression by cold stress was observed. This LeCAS expression was also induced after exogenous treatment with a low level of 1-amino-cyclopropane-1-carboxylate as the precursor of ethylene, but not with either salicylic acid or methyl jas-monate. The induction of LeCAS expression in CWP-treated and plant activator-treated roots is likely to be caused by the detoxification of HCN during ethylene production. Transient activation of LeCAS expression caused by ethylene production in tomato roots may be a general phenomenon in fungal elicitor-induced and synthetic plant activator-induced resistance. LeCAS seems to be useful for screening possible novel plant activators for plant protection against pathogens.     

Local and systemic resistance to fungal pathogens triggered by an AVR9-mediated hypersensitive response in tomato and oilseed rape carrying the Cf-9 resistance gene

Tomato and transgenic oilseed rape plants expressing the Cf-9 resistance gene develop a hypersensitive response (HR) after injection of the corresponding Avr9 gene product. It was investigated whether induction of a HR conferred resistance to different fungal pathogens in tomato and oilseed rape. Induction of an AVR9 mediated HR at the pathogen infection site delayed the development of the biotrophs Oidium lycopersicum in tomato and Erysiphe polygoni in oilseed rape, but enhanced the development of the necrotrophs Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria solani in tomato and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in oilseed rape. Interestingly, delayed fungal disease development was observed in plant tissues surrounding the HR lesion regardless of whether a necrotrophic or biotrophic pathogen was used. In tomato, AVR9 injection induced systemic expression of PR1, PR2 and PR3 defence genes but did not induce systemic resistance to O. lycopersicum, B. cinerea or A. solani. In oilseed rape, AVR9 injection temporarily induced systemic resistance to Leptosphaeria maculans and E. polygoni, but did not induce detectable systemic expression of PR1, PR2 or Cxc750. These results give new insights into the potential uses of an induced HR to engineer disease resistance.     

Colonization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis</Emphasis> roots by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichoderma atroviride</Emphasis> promotes growth and enhances systemic disease resistance through jasmonic acid/ethylene and salicylic acid pathways

Trichoderma spp. are common soil fungi used as biocontrol agents due to their capacity to produce antibiotics, induce systemic resistance in plants and parasitize phytopathogenic fungi of major agricultural importance. The present study investigated whether colonization of Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings by Trichoderma atroviride affected plant growth and development. Here it is shown that T. atroviride promotes growth in Arabidopsis. Moreover, T. atroviride produced indole compounds in liquid cultures. These results suggest that indoleacetic acid-related indoles (IAA-related indoles) produced by T. atroviride may have a stimulatory effect on plant growth. In addition, whether colonization of Arabidopsis roots by T. atroviride can induce systemic protection against foliar pathogens was tested. Arabidopsis roots inoculation with T. atroviride provided systemic protection to the leaves inoculated with bacterial and fungal pathogens. To investigate the possible pathway involved in the systemic resistance induced by T. atroviride, the expression profile of salicylic acid, jasmonic acid/ethylene, oxidative burst and camalexin related genes was assessed in Arabidopsis. T. atroviride induced an overlapped expression of defence-related genes of SA and JA/ET pathways, and of the gene involved in the synthesis of the antimicrobial phytoalexin, camalexin, both locally and systemically. This is the first report where colonization of Arabidopsis roots by T. atroviride induces the expression of SA and JA/ET pathways simultaneously to confer resistance against hemibiotrophic and necrotrophic phytopathogens. The beneficial effects induced by the inoculation of Arabidopsis roots with T. atroviride and the induction of the plant defence system suggest a molecular dialogue between these organisms.     

Increased rhizosphere populations of Trichoderma asperellum strain T34 caused by secretion pattern of root exudates in tomato plants inoculated with Botrytis cinerea

Root exudates secreted from plants can modify rhizosphere microbiota by enhancing or inhibiting the growth of biological control agents (BCAs) and/or pathogens. Similarly, microorganisms can modify the secretion of plant root exudates. The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of a Botrytis cinerea leaf infection on the secretion of tomato root exudates and on the populations of the BCA Trichoderma asperellum strain T34 (T34). This study found that the secretion pattern of root exudates in tomato plants was influenced by B. cinerea infection in plant leaves. An increase in the levels of gluconic acid was observed, while levels of sucrose and inositol decreased. A decrease in the severity of B. cinerea by the induction of systemic resistance triggered by T34 was also observed. Tomato plants infected with B. cinerea maintained the populations of T34 in the roots, while populations of T34 decreased in plants not inoculated with the pathogen. Samples exposed to media containing gluconic acid (as the only carbon source or at the same concentration found in roots exudates) saw an increase in the in vitro growth of T34 compared to media without gluconic acid. In conclusion, a change in the secretion pattern of root exudates caused by B. cinerea, together with the enhanced growth of T34 in the presence of gluconic acid, indicates the existence of leaf to root communication. The result of this is enhanced populations of T34, and in turn induced disease resistance and a consequential reduction in disease severity.