Inventory of Fatty Acid Desaturases in the Pennate Diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum

The diatom Phaeodactylum is rich in very long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Fatty acid (FA) synthesis, elongation, and desaturation have been studied in depth in plants including Arabidopsis, but for secondary endosymbionts the full picture remains unclear. FAs are synthesized up to a chain length of 18 carbons inside chloroplasts, where they can be incorporated into glycerolipids. They are also exported to the ER for phospho- and betaine lipid syntheses. Elongation of FAs up to 22 carbons occurs in the ER. PUFAs can be reimported into plastids to serve as precursors for glycerolipids. In both organelles, FA desaturases are present, introducing double bonds between carbon atoms and giving rise to a variety of molecular species. In addition to the four desaturases characterized in Phaeodactylum (FAD2, FAD6, PtD5, PtD6), we identified eight putative desaturase genes. Combining subcellular localization predictions and comparisons with desaturases from other organisms like Arabidopsis, we propose a scheme at the whole cell level, including features that are likely specific to secondary endosymbionts.     

Development and application of molecular markers for TSW (thousand-seed weight) related gene BnaGRF7.C02 in Brassica napus

Brassica napus L. (rapeseed) is one of the most important oil crops with large cultivated area in China. Seed size and seed weight play crucial roles for yield and harvest. In this study, a type of 15 bp-deletion in BnaGRF7.C02 coding region was identified through sequence alignment of BnaGRF7.C02 in 42 rapeseed varieties, and association analysis indicated that the 15 bp-deletion was related to the rapeseed Thousand-Seed Weight (TSW) phenotype. Furthermore, we developed two InDel markers to identify this 15 bp InDel. The tissue-specific expression patterns showed that BnaGRF7.C02 prominently expressed in the late stage of seed development. These findings may assist in InDel markers-based breeding efforts to select higher TWS varieties and improve the crop yield of B. napus.     

First report of Leptosphaeria sclerotioides on Brassica napus in Northwestern China

In 2020, diseased seedlings of winter oilseed rape(Brassica napus) with cankered taproots as well as abundant sclerotium-like structures in the soil surrounding the roots were found in Longxi County of Gansu province of northwestern China. A fungus with production of pycnidia was isolated from the diseased roots, and it was identified based on morphological characteristics, molecular phylogeny(ITS, LSU) and PCR detection with the specific primers. The fungus was identified as Leptosphaeria scler...     

Effects of nitrogen fertilization on insect pests,their parasitoids,plant diseases and volatile organic compounds in Brassica napus

Nitrogen (N) availability is a key factor influencing the yield of Brassica napus L. Thus, mineral fertilization is widely used to improve the quality and quantity of seeds. In this study, we conducted field experiments to determine the impact of nitrogen fertilization on B. napus pests, their parasitoids and plant diseases. The results showed that N treatment had an impact on the abundance of pollen beetles (Meligethes aeneus Fab.) and cabbage seed weevils (Ceutorhynchus obstrictus Marsh.) as well as dark spot disease (Alternaria brassicae (Berk.) Sacc.). Since pest abundance was not correlated with the flower and silique numbers, the feeding and oviposition sites, plant smell bouquets were analysed to determine potentially attractive or repellent volatile organic compounds. We detected 19 different compounds among which acetic acid and several lipoxygenase pathway products were emitted at higher levels from N-treated plants. Emission of a few other terpenoid compounds was correlated with the pest abundance in field conditions. Abundance of parasitoids of both pests was related to the host availability rather than to the fertilization treatment. Therefore, we suggest that plant chemical cues play a minor role in localization of hosts in close proximity to parasitoid. Dark spot disease levels decreased with increasing N availability, possibly reflecting enhanced emissions of acetic acid, a known antifungal volatile. This study demonstrates the effects of N fertilization on bud and flower volatile bouquets, which might play a role in B. napus insect pest host selection and in resistance to fungal plant diseases. Further studies are necessary to investigate the behavioural responses of insects to the changed volatile bouquets.     

Determination of selection criteria for seed yield and seed oil content in Vernonia (Vernonia galamensis variety ethiopica)

The magnitude of relationships among different traits is important in plant breeding programs to identify the best selection criteria and improve the efficiency of selection. This study was conducted to determine relationships between seed yield and seed oil content with other important agronomic traits among 36 diverse accessions of Vernonia (Vernonia galamensis variety ethiopica), a potentially novel industrial oilseed crop. Field evaluations were conducted during 2005, 2006 and 2007 at the Limpopo Province in South Africa using a partially balanced lattice design. Simple correlation and path analysis were performed to identify the best selection criteria for increased seed yield and seed oil content. Simple correlation and path analyses revealed that the formation of productive primary heads strongly associated with increased seed yield (r_g = 0.81, p < 0.001). Furthermore, path analysis indicated selection for increased number of primary heads would bring about simultaneous and favorable change towards reduced days to maturity and shorter plant height. Further associational study of traits with seed oil content showed a significant (p < 0.05) correlation between oil content with 1000 seed weight (r_g = 0.4). The path analysis, however, exposed seed yield followed by 1000 seed weight with significant direct effect on seed oil content. The study demonstrated that selection for increased number of productive primary heads is the principal selection criterion to improve seed yield. Whereas selection for 1000 seed weight and increased seed yield serve as major selection criteria to achieve increased oil content in V. galemanesis.     

Marker gene excision in transgenic Brassica napus via Agrobacterium-mediated Cre/lox transient expression system

Oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) is one of the most important oil crops in the world. However, study on marker-free transgene of B. napus for bio-safety purpose is limited in this allotetraploid crop. In order to advance marker gene excision research, a newly designed Cre/lox system combining crossing and auto-excision strategy was introduced into B. napus. The system consists of 2 sets of independent vectors including pC35Spro::T7RP carrying T7 RNA polymerase and pCT7pro::Cre carrying T7 promoter respectively. After hybridization of 2 according types of transgenic B. napus, marker gene would be removed as T7 RNA polymerase facilitate T7 promoter to promote Cre gene expression. Totally 52 and 46 positive T₀ transgenic lines of these 2 vectors were obtained after identification by PCR and test trip. T₁ plants from 3 T₀ positive pC35Spro::T7RP lines and 2 T₀ positive pC35Spro::T7RP lines were identified as single copy according to segregation ratio and were chosen for crossing. However, expression of CP4 EPSPS (glyphosate resistance gene) and OXY (bromoxynil resistance gene) were not found in F₁ progeny, which proved that the excision was not complete. The possible reasons for our limited success were investigated and detailed analyses were performed. Although this system is not applicable for generating transgenic B. napus free from selectable marker gene, it provided valuable experience and clue for further improvement of this technique. Many other advantages and further improvement will be progressed in future work.     

Efficacy of endophytic and applied Metarhizium anisopliae (Metch.) Sorokin (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) against larvae of Plutella xylostella L. (Yponomeutidae: Lepidoptera) infesting Brassica napus plants

The internal colonization of Brassica napus plants by Metarhizium anisopliae was demonstrated and the endophytic and direct effects of the fungus against Plutella xylostella larvae were assessed. Internal colonization of the plant by the fungus was shown by re-isolating the fungus from leaves, petioles and stems of the plant that were not the initial site of inoculation. Results indicated that significant differences (at P = 0.05) were obtained in mean % successful re-isolation of the fungus from leaves, petioles and stems at 2, 3 and 4 weeks after inoculation. To assess the endophytic effect of the fungus, larvae of P. xylostella were introduced onto plant leaves distant from the initial site of inoculation with the fungus (one leaf per plant). Results indicated that significant differences (at P = 0.05) were obtained in mean % mortality of larvae that were introduced at 2, 3 and 4 weeks after inoculation compared to the non-inoculated control. Similar significant results were obtained when the direct effect of the fungus against the larvae was assessed. In conclusion, this research provides evidence for the first time of the endophytic action of M. anisopliae against P. xylostella larvae and the ability of the fungus to colonize the internal tissues of B. napus plants.     

Yield and oil variability in modern varieties of high-erucic winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L. var. oleifera) and Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata A. Braun) under reduced agricultural inputs

Increasing interest in vegetable oils for use in green chemistry has stimulated research into high-erucic Brassicaceae species such as winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L. var. oleifera) and Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata A. Braun). The objective of this study was to determine the yield response of recently released cultivars of these species under high and low production inputs. The varieties Maplus and Hearty of B. napus, and BRK1 of B. carinata were cultivated with autumn sowing in a large-scale field trial at the experimental farm of the University of Padova in Legnaro (NE Italy, 45°21′N). The genotypes were compared under high and low input management systems: high input was characterised by conventional soil tillage, chemical weed control, and high N–P–K fertilization, and low input by minimum tillage, mechanical weed control, and limited N–P–K fertilization.Oilseed rape varieties had greater seed yield than BRK1, and interactions with input level and cultivation year were significant. Maplus yielded most at high input (3.78 vs. 3.31 t ha⁻¹ DM at low; average of two years), whereas Hearty showed no significant differences between inputs (3.49 t ha⁻¹; average of years and inputs), indicating its better adaptability to extensive agricultural management. Yield performance of BRK1 B. carinata was very stable at varying agricultural managements, but not very high (2.73 t ha⁻¹ on average) – a fact that may limit its competitiveness with oilseed rape in autumn sowing, especially at higher latitudes. B. carinata was also more variable across the years than oilseed rape in terms of seed yield, oil content, and percentage of erucic acid. This was mainly due to the particular climatic conditions of the second year of the experiment (mild winter; hot, dry spring) which led to considerable winter elongation and pre-flowering, and later to incomplete seed filling. In these conditions, BRK1 had both lower oil seed content (36.7% vs. 47.1%) and erucic acid (41.3% vs. 49.1%) than oilseed rapes.In general, with few exceptions, the reduction in inputs did not affect either seed oil content or the amount of erucic acid, regardless of variety and year, but seed crude proteins were reduced mainly because of N shortage.     

Management of peach rusty spot epidemics with biorational fungicides

A total of nine biorational fungicides were examined during the 2000 and 2001 growing seasons for their ability to manage rusty spot epidemics, caused by Podosphaera leucotricha, on moderately susceptible ‘Jerseyglo’ peach. The biorationals studied were the biological control agents Bacillus subtilis, Ampelomyces quisqualis and Phoma glomerata; the plant extracts neem seed oil, cinnamon oil and extracts from leaves of giant knotweed, Reynoutria sachalinensis; the inorganic compounds potassium bicarbonate and potassium dihydrogen phosphate; and chitosan, a deacetylated form of chitin derived from crustacean shells. Disease assessments, consisting of fruit lesion counts, were made at three- to six-day intervals during the course of the epidemics. Three biorational fungicides, B. subtilis, neem seed oil extract and potassium bicarbonate, significantly reduced areas under the disease incidence and lesion density progression curves in both years of the study. The remaining biorational materials reduced disease in only one year or neither year. When the logistic model was fit to the disease progress curves, the three most effective biorationals also significantly reduced the estimated maximum disease level or carrying capacity parameter K. Although these reductions were statistically significant, the amount of disease control was relatively low, ranging from 24 to 34%, versus 94% control for the myclobutanil standard. Thus, B. subtilis, neem seed oil extract and potassium bicarbonate provide insufficient efficacy for commercial management of rusty spot when applied alone. However, since these biorationals consistently provided some levels of control, they may be candidates for use in integrated programs with conventional fungicides.     

Herb and oil composition of dill (Anethum graveolens L.): Effects of crop maturity and plant density

Steam-distilled dill (Anethum graveolens L.) oil yield and composition varies with the relative amount of vegetative and reproductive tissue and the maturity of the plant material distilled. The characteristics of the dill plant at harvest may be manipulated through production practices. A study was conducted in western Montana to determine the effects of crop maturity and plant density on dill plant growth and on oil production and quality. The crop was harvested at intervals from early fruit formation through fruit pigmentation. Oil yield declined with fruit maturity over the sampling period, particularly after the completion of fruit ripening and “seed” shatter. The carvone content of the oil increased and α-phellandrene decreased as the plant progressed from flowering to fruit ripeness. The highest oil yields with maximum carvone levels were obtained when most of the fruits on primary umbels were pigmented but had not become dry and fully mature. The balance between carvone and phellandrene in the oil was a function of the proportion of mature umbel tissue to vegetative and immature umbel tissue. Seeding rates of 2.2–17.9 kg ha⁻¹ resulted in average plant densities of 100–474 plants m⁻². Total biomass production and oil yield were generally unaffected by plant density, but plant population influenced plant architecture and oil composition. Plants grown at low density had a more extensive development of umbellate fruiting structures and a lower proportion of leaf and stem tissue than did plants at high density. Carvone was higher in oil from widely spaced plants, while phellandrene, α-pinene, and dill ether (3,9-epoxy-1-p-menthene) were lower. Harvest date and plant density affected oil composition in a complementary manner. An early harvest or high plant density is preferable if herbaceous oil characteristics are desired, while a late harvest or low plant density is suitable when growing dill for seed or for a high-carvone oil.     

Genome-wide association study identifies novel loci and candidate genes for drought stress tolerance in rapeseed

Rapeseed(Brassica napus)is one of the most important oil crops worldwide;however,drought seriously curtails its growth and productivity.Identifying drought-tolerant germplasm is an efficient strategy for addressing water shortages.Here,we phenotyped a panel of 264 B.napus accessions at full-bloom stage using water loss ratio(WLR)as drought-tolerant index.It identified 8 low-WLR and 6 high-WLR accessions,regarded as droughttolerant and drought-sensitive,respectively.Comparing with drought-sensitive accessions at the seedling stage,drought-tolerant accessions had shown better performance in maintaining fresh and dry weights,and performed the higher expression of drought-induced marker genes under drought stress.Subsequently,a total of 139 SNPs(single nucleotide polymorphisms)were identified associated with the WLR using a genome-wide association study(GWAS)among 264 B.napus accessions,with the largest number SNPs at chromosome A10,and 13 SNPs significantly were associated with the WLR(-log₁₀(p-value)>6).Furthermore,4 putative candidate genes(BnaC09.RPS6,BnaC09.MATE,BnaA10.PPD5 and BnaC09.Histone)were screened involving in drought tolerance in B.napus.Together,our results highlight the WLR's importance in drought tolerance and establish the foundation for improving WLR-associated drought tolerance in rapeseed.     

Profiling the effects of microwave-assisted and soxhlet extraction techniques on the physicochemical attributes of Moringa oleifera seed oil and proteins

There is a constant search for biomaterials from natural products like plants for food and industrial applications.The work embodied in this report aimed at investigating the effects of microwave-assisted and soxhlet extraction(MAE and SE) techniques on the functional physicochemical quality characteristics of Moringa oleifera seed oil and proteins extracts. M. oleifera seeds were ground to fine powders and oil was extracted by microwave-assisted and soxhlet extraction techniques using petroleum...     

Divergent selection at ultra-low plant density for seed protein and oil content within soybean cultivars

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seed is a major source of protein for animal feed and oil for human consumption. Selection within elite soybean cultivars for the improvement of agronomic and seed traits is assumed to be ineffective due to the belief that cultivars are highly homogeneous. Previously reported data suggest that latent variation among the single plant selections within a cultivar exists and that mechanisms that generate de novo variation may also be present. The main objective of this study was to perform divergent single-plant selection at ultra-low plant density and investigate the presence of genetic variation for seed protein and oil within three elite soybean cultivars. A secondary objective was to investigate the variation for fatty acid composition. In 1995, single plants from the three cultivars were grown in a honeycomb design using a plant-to-plant spacing of 0.9 m. A total of 333 plants from ‘Benning’, 392 plants from ‘Haskell’, and 371 plants from ‘Cook’ were evaluated. Divergent single-plant selection for protein and oil content was performed to select a total of 20 plants for high or low protein and 20 plants for high or low oil from each cultivar. The selected plants were further evaluated in replicated row-plot experiments for 3 years. Our results indicate that single-plant selection at low plant density was successful in discovering significant variation for seed protein and oil within each of the three soybean cultivars. For protein content, the magnitude of intra-cultivar variation between the highest- and lowest-protein lines averaged 19 g kg⁻¹ across the three cultivars and ranged from 13 to 24 g kg⁻¹. For oil composition, the magnitude of variation between the most divergent lines averaged 12 g kg⁻¹ across the three cultivars and ranged from 9 to 14 g kg⁻¹. Significant variation among the selected progeny lines was also discovered for specific fatty acid composition. The magnitude of intra-cultivar variation averaged from 6 to 29 g kg⁻¹ across the five fatty acids of soybean. The genetic variation discovered within the soybean cultivars is most likely due to latent variation and/or newly created variation. Our data provide evidence that single-plant selection at ultra-low plant density within elite cultivars can be effective in improving the seed composition of a soybean cultivar.     

Nutritional evaluation,fatty acid analysis and anticancer properties investigation of seeds from kan-zaw,a potential diet oil and medicinal plant

Payenapara lleloneura Kurz. (Kan-zaw), an endemic medicinal plant only found in Tanintharyi Region of Myanmar, is widely used in the treatment of various cancer and different ailments. In the present research, the seeds were phytochemical investigated for their nutritional potential for their use as functional foods or novel diet oil resources. Nutritional evaluation showed that the seeds are rich in fats and carbohydrates (soluble sugars and starch). Fatty acid analyses showed that the seeds accumulate very rich α-eleostearic acid (α-ESA, 18:3^{Δ9cis,11trans,13trans}), an important conjugated fatty acid, up to more than 70 ​% of total fatty acids. The seed oil derived from the Kan-zaw tree contains approximately 3.25 ​% β-eleostearic acid (18:3^{Δ9trans,11trans,13trans}), an unusual conjugated fatty acid that imparts a potent anticancer application and industrially important drying qualities to Kan-zaw oil. Physicochemical properties of the Kan-zaw seeds were examined; petroleum ether (60–90 ​°C) extract of seed oils were also investigated for the saponification value, iodine value and estimation of acid value. Further, the present study investigated cytotoxic potential of ethanol, methanol, acetone, chloroform Kan-zaw seed extracts and commercial Kan-zaw oil against human cervical cancer cell line (HeLa). The Kan-zaw extracts and oil have shown significant anticancer activity on HeLa cells.     

Evapotranspiration,yield, and water-use efficiency responses of Lesquerella fendleri at different growth stages

Lesquerella fendleri (Gray) Wats. is a potential new oilseed crop for the arid southwestern United States. Lesquerella seed oil with similar properties as castor oil is being considered as a domestic replacement for the imported castor oil. Development of new crops with low irrigation needs is of high priority. Because the most critical stage of sensitivity to moisture deficits has not been determined in Lesquerella species, the objectives of this study were: (i) to identify the most critical stage or stages for moisture deficit and, (ii) to determine the effect of moisture deficit on yield, yield components, oil and fatty acid composition. Two-year field studies were conducted at the New Mexico State University, Leyendecker Plant Science Research Center. The experimental design was a randomized complete block. The treatments consisted of (a) T1: Continuous favorable soil moisture [irrigated at 50% soil water depletion (SWD)]. (b) T2: Moisture stress (75% SWD) from establishment to initial flowering with no stress from flowering to final harvest (50% SWD). (c) T3: No stress imposed from establishment to initial flowering (50% SWD) followed by stress to final harvest (75% SWD). (d) T4: Moisture stress (75% SWD) from establishment to final harvest. The amount of water applied ranged from 810 to 729 mm for the first year, and 810 to 625 mm for the second year. Seed weight per plant and number of pods per plant were generally higher when water availability was maintained at or above 50% SWD throughout the growing season. Neither seed number per pod nor seed size was influenced by irrigation treatments. Lesquerella was more sensitive to water availability during flowering and seed development as a greater loss in seed yield occurred when irrigation was delayed to 75% SWD during that stage of development. Seed yield and dry matter production from the 2 year field studies were closely related to the seasonal cumulative evapotranspiration. For each millimeter of evapotranspiration, seed yield increased from 1.8 kg ha⁻¹ mm in 1994–1995 to 1.3 kg ha⁻¹ mm for 1995–1996. The dry matter production increased 13.4 kg ha⁻¹ for each mm increase in seasonal evapotranspiration during 1994–1995. This relationship was a second order polynomial with an R² of 0.86 during 1995–1996. The WUE_gr and WUE_dm were highest under the most favorable water availability conditions for growth and seed development. Delaying irrigation to 75% SWD throughout the crop growth period resulted in the lowest oil content. Lesquerolic acid content was not affected by irrigation during both the growing seasons.     

New host resistances to Pseudocercosporella capsellae and implications for white leaf spot management in Brassicaceae crops

Effective host resistance is the most cost-effective long term prospect for successful management of white leaf spot disease (Pseudocercosporella capsellae) in Brassicaceae. In two separate field trials, 168 genotypes were screened. In the first trial, lines of Brassica oleracea var. capitata (59), Brassica napus (34), Brassica juncea (6) and B. juncea containing wild weedy Brassicaceae introgression(s) (14) were arranged; and in the second, Australian historic and current B. napus (45) and B. juncea (10) varieties were screened. There was wide variation in expression of resistance, from complete resistance to highly susceptible as assessed by two disease parameters, viz. (i), Area Under Disease Progress Curve (AUDPC) for percent leaves diseased (values 0–221.2) and (ii) Percent Leaf Collapse Index (%LCI) values for leaf collapse due to disease (0–38.7). Brassica oleracea var. capitata was overall the most resistant species, while B. juncea the most susceptible with the majority having AUDPC values >75 and B. napus was intermediate. Five B. oleracea var. capitata genotypes were completely resistant, with 0 AUDPC and %LCI values. Pioneer^® 45Y22 (RR) ‘Mystic’ and ‘Wahoo’ were also highly resistant, with the least %LCI (<3.7) and AUDPC (<20) of the Australian B. napus varieties. In contrast, ‘Thunder TT’ (AUDPC -133.6; %CLI – 15.6) and ‘Carbine’ (AUDPC – 73.8; %CLI – 12.5) were the most susceptible lines in first and second trials, respectively. The particularly high susceptibility of newly released B. juncea varieties such as ‘Xceed OasisCL’ highlights the risk of significant losses in such susceptible varieties when deployed in areas with high degree of pressure for white leaf spot disease. There was no association between AUDPC or % CLI with year of Australian varietal release, indicating that Australian breeding programs not made improvement for resistance to white leaf spot over the past two or more decades. Resistant varieties identified in this experiment can now not only be utilized in breeding programs to significantly improve overall crop resistance and management of white leaf spot disease, but also directly deployed to lower the severe inoculum load challenging current varieties.     

Lipid analysis of three special nervonic acid resources in China

Nervonic acid plays an important role in nutrition and function of the human body. Malania oleifera, Acer truncatum and Xanthoceras sorbifolium are China’s unique woody plant rich in nervonic acid in seed oil. This study aims to investigate the lipid composition of these 3 special resources. Their fatty acids were detected by gas chromatography coupled with flame detector (GC-FID). Triglycerides (TAGs) and phospholipids (PLs) were detected by shotgun-mass spectrometry (shotgun-MS). Results showed that M. oleifera oil presented the highest level of nervonic acid (46.20 ​± ​0.22%) among the 3 oils. Seeds oil of A. truncatum and X. sorbifolium had 3.53 ​± ​0.20% and 1.83 ​± ​0.21% nervonic acid respectively. 53 species of TAGs and 15 species of PLs were identified in M. oleifera oil, with PLs content of 499.94 ​± ​22.34 ​μg/g. In A. truncatum oil, PL and TAG species were twice more than those in M. oleifera oil, and its’ content of PLs was 76.27 ​± ​3.21 ​μg/g. In X. sorbifolium oil, 75 TAGs and 34 ​PLs were detected, with the lowest PLs at 23.84 ​± ​0.17 ​μg/g. The results demonstrated that these 3 vegetable oils have great potential to become nervonic acid supplements for human health.     

Bacillus megaterium A6 suppresses Sclerotinia sclerotiorum on oilseed rape in the field and promotes oilseed rape growth

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum causes serious yield losses in oilseed rape and other crops worldwide. Field trials were conducted at two locations to evaluate two formulations of oilseed rape seed containing the plant-growth promoting bacterium Bacillus megaterium A6 for suppression of this pathogen. Treatments containing strain A6 in pellet and in wrap formulations resulted in oilseed rape seed yields that were similar to the chemical control and significantly greater than the untreated seed control at both locations. Treatments containing A6 in pellet and wrap formulations also resulted in an incidence of disease caused by S. sclerotiorum that was similar to the chemical control. Both of these treatments significantly decreased disease incidence relative to the untreated seed control and to the respective formulated seed controls (that did not contain strain A6) at both locations. Strain A6 applied to oilseed rape seed in these two formulations promoted growth in greenhouse pot studies conducted with autoclaved soil. In two experiments, these treatments resulted in significant increases in mean shoot dry weight per pot and mean % total N per plant relative to their respective controls containing formulated oilseed rape seed without strain A6 and to the untreated seed control. Both formulations provided stable B. megaterium A6 (≥10⁶ CFU) and seed germination (>85%) over a six month period at room temperature. Experiments reported here indicate the commercial potential of these formulations of B. megaterium A6 for suppression of S. sclerotiorum on oilseed rape.