烟草疫霉拮抗菌枯草芽孢杆菌21b菌株的分离鉴定及其生物学特性研究

【目的】为了控制烟草疫霉(Phytophthora nicotianae)引起的烟草黑胫病对烟草生产造成的危害。【方法】采用稀释平板法从贵州省毕节地区烟草根际土壤中分离筛选拮抗烟草疫霉的细菌菌株,然后经形态观察、Biolog鉴定及16S rRNA基因序列分析,对分离菌株进行鉴定,同时测定抗菌谱,单因子变量分析、优化生长条件。【结果】共分离得到44株拮抗烟草疫霉的细菌菌株,其中菌株21b对烟草黑胫病菌菌丝生长的抑制率达78.33%,鉴定为枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis)。该菌株对烟草青枯病菌(Ralstonia solanacearum)、烟草灰霉病菌(Botrytis cinerea)、烟草赤星病菌(Alternaria alternate)和烟草炭疽病菌(Colletotrichum destructivum)均具有拮抗作用,抑菌圈大小分别为19.5、18.2、14.6和13.4 mm,最佳的发酵条件为:温度30°C、p H 7.0–8.0、装液量12%、盐浓度0.5%。【结论】分离筛选到一株对烟草寄生疫霉有较强拮抗活性的细菌菌株,为进一步开发烟草黑胫病的生防菌剂提供了菌种资源。     

一株表面活性剂产生菌的分离及抑菌活性

【目的】研究分离得到的表面活性剂产生菌的产表面活性剂能力、分类地位和抑菌活性。【方法】采用血平板、油平板进行表面活性剂产生菌的分离,以排油圈法进行表面活性的测定;通过生理生化特性和16S rDNA序列相似性分析对BS1菌株进行初步鉴定;利用对峙培养法和菌丝生长、孢子囊形成、孢子萌发的抑制率测定研究其抑菌活性。【结果】从石油污染土壤中分离到的BS1菌株可产生表面活性剂,在分类学地位上属于假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas sp.)。BS1菌体、发酵上清液、挥发性物质对12种供试病原真菌均表现出一定的抑制作用。BS1菌体、发酵上清液对大豆疫霉菌(Phytophthora sojae)的抑制率最大,分别达到65.31%和95.93%。发酵上清液通过影响大豆疫霉菌菌丝生长、孢子囊形成、孢子萌发等方式抑制病原菌的正常生长,稀释20倍的发酵上清液依然具有明显的抑制作用。BS1菌株产生的挥发性物质对大豆菌核菌(Sclerotinia sclerotiorum)的抑菌效果最好,抑制率达到84.25%。【结论】BS1菌株在产生表面活性剂的同时,还具有生物防治作用潜力。     

致病疫霉拮抗菌株B25-I-3的鉴定及其次级代谢产物

【背景】粘细菌是一类具有社会性行为的高等原核生物,能产生丰富、多样、新颖的具有生物活性的次级代谢产物,具有很大的研究开发价值。【目的】从土壤样品中筛选出对致病疫霉(Phytophthora infestans)具有拮抗作用的粘细菌,并对其次级代谢产物进行研究。【方法】对分离到的一株拮抗P. infestans菌株,结合形态观察和16S rRNA基因序列分析确定其分类地位,并通过单因素分析与正交优化相结合的方法对菌株的发酵参数进行研究。采用滤纸片法对其浓缩发酵液中活性物质的稳定性及抗菌活性进行检测,并通过薄层色谱法(thin layer chromatography,TLC)与高效液相色谱法(high performance liquid chromatography,HPLC)等初步分离后,将具有抗P. infestans活性的组分利用液相色谱-质谱联用技术(HPLC-MS)进行检测,最后通过离体叶片法测定活性物质对马铃薯晚疫病的防病作用。【结果】从土壤样品中分离得到的菌株B25-I-3对P. infestans表现出较强的拮抗活性,经鉴定为橙色粘球菌(Myxococcus fulvus)。其拮抗P. infestans的活性物质主要存在于胞外,产活性物质的最优发酵条件为：摇床转速180 r/min,接种量10%,培养温度30 °C,发酵周期7 d。该菌株产生的活性物质耐受蛋白酶K以及紫外线与自然光照射,对温度耐受性极强,而且易于在低温下保存,对枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis)、金黄色葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus aureus)、大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)、酿酒酵母(Saccharomyces cerevisiae)、立枯丝核菌(Rhizoctonia solani)、尖孢镰刀菌(Fusarium oxysporum)、向日葵核盘菌(Sclerotinia sclerotiorum)均有不同程度的抑制作用。其对P. infestans的拮抗组分中含有N-(3-氨基-2-羟丙基)-N-甲基硫酸二酰胺[N-(3-amino-2-hydroxypropyl)-N-methylsulfuric diamide]与甲基(2R)-2-叠氮基-3-羟基-2-甲基丙酸酯[methyl(2R)-2-azido-3-hydroxyl-2-methylpropanoate],该活性物质能明显抑制P. infestans侵染马铃薯叶片且对不同品种的叶片均无损伤作用。【结论】研究为M. fulvus B25-I-3活性物质的分离鉴定及抗马铃薯晚疫病生物农药的研发提供了基础数据。     

大兴安岭地区粘细菌资源的多样性及其生物活性

【背景】粘细菌是一类具有社会性行为的高等原核生物,其代谢产物具有丰富、多样、新颖的生物活性,是筛选天然药物的良好资源,具有很大的研究开发应用价值。【目的】分析大兴安岭地区粘细菌资源的多样性;分离纯化可培养的粘细菌,分析其抗菌活性并从中筛选对马铃薯晚疫病菌具有拮抗作用的菌株。【方法】通过变性梯度凝胶电泳(DGGE)技术对从大兴安岭地区采集的15个土样中粘细菌资源的多样性进行分析,利用兔粪诱导、大肠杆菌划线诱导和滤纸诱导3种方法从土样中分离可培养的粘细菌,结合形态观察、生理生化特征和16S rRNA基因序列分析确定这些菌株的分类地位,通过平板对峙法对其进行抗菌活性分析。【结果】DGGE的分析结果显示,15个土样中共鉴定到13个属的粘细菌,基本覆盖了大部分已知的粘细菌种属以及部分未分类的粘细菌,表现出了丰富的多样性。共分离得到88株菌,从中得到22株纯菌,经鉴定属于2个属(粘球菌属与珊瑚球菌属)8个种(黄色粘球菌、橙色粘球菌、变绿粘球菌、珊瑚粘球菌、具枝粘球菌、大孢珊瑚球菌、弱小珊瑚球菌和珊瑚状珊瑚球菌)。抗菌结果显示:22株纯菌均表现出可以对一种甚至多种指示菌产生抗性,其中19株抑制大肠杆菌的生长,14株抑制马铃薯晚疫病菌的生长,8株抑制金黄色葡萄球菌的生长,13株抑制酿酒酵母菌的生长,7株抑制枯草芽孢杆菌的生长。【结论】内蒙古大兴安岭地区蕴藏着丰富的粘细菌资源,粘球菌属及珊瑚球菌属可能为该地区粘细菌菌群中的优势菌。分离纯化出的粘细菌菌株均表现出抑制一种甚至多种指示菌生长的活性,其中64%的纯菌对马铃薯晚疫病菌产生抗性,具有进一步研究的潜在价值。     

一株马铃薯干腐病拮抗菌的筛选、鉴定及其生物防效

【背景】马铃薯干腐病是一种由镰刀菌引起的田间和储藏期都普遍发生的病害,主要引起块茎腐烂,致使马铃薯品质和产量降低,严重影响其食用价值和经济价值。【目的】发掘有效的生防菌株以控制马铃薯干腐病,并探究其抑菌作用。【方法】从甘肃定西地区马铃薯根际土壤中分离到109株细菌,以硫色镰刀菌(Fusarium sulphureum)为靶标菌,采用平板对峙法筛选拮抗菌,并通过形态学、生理生化特征及16S r RNA基因序列分析对拮抗菌株进行鉴定。检测拮抗菌无菌发酵液对F.sulphureum菌丝生长、孢子萌发、马铃薯块茎损伤接种病斑直径、干腐病发病率及对绿豆种子发芽的影响。【结果】筛选到一株对马铃薯干腐病有较强抑制作用的菌株YL11,经鉴定其为假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas sp.)菌株。YL11菌株无菌发酵液对F.sulphureum菌丝生长、孢子萌发、马铃薯块茎病斑扩展、干腐病发病率、毒素活性均有显著抑制作用。20%无菌发酵液对F.sulphureum菌落生长的抑制率达到87.3%;75%无菌发酵液可完全抑制孢子萌发;无菌发酵液浸泡能有效抑制马铃薯干腐病病斑的扩展,14 d时对病斑扩展的抑制率达到67.1%;90 d后干腐病的发生率降低了68.4%;同时降低了F.sulphureum毒素的活性。【结论】拮抗菌株YL11能显著抑制F.sulphureum的生长,对马铃薯干腐病有较强的生物防治效果,具有潜在的应用价值。     

贝莱斯芽胞杆菌HN-Q-8菌株发酵液稳定性测定及抑菌活性成分分析

【背景】贝莱斯芽胞杆菌(Bacillus velezensis) HN-Q-8菌株是本实验室前期获得的能有效拮抗立枯丝核菌(Rhizoctonia solani)的生防细菌。【目的】明确贝莱斯芽胞杆菌HN-Q-8菌株的抑菌活性物质。【方法】采用菌丝生长速率法检测其发酵液对5种马铃薯病原菌的拮抗能力以及稳定性,利用基质辅助激光解吸电离飞行时间质谱技术对HN-Q-8菌株活性物质进行鉴定。【结果】HN-Q-8菌株对立枯丝核菌(Rhizoctonia solani)、尖镰孢菌(Fusarium oxysporum)、茄链格孢(Alternaria solani)和致病疫霉(Phytophthora infestans)具有良好的抑菌活性,抑菌率可达50%-90%。发酵液分别经紫外照射35min、自然光照射10 h以及100°C高温处理后,相对抑菌率分别为74%、92%和98%;发酵液的抑菌活性不受胰蛋白酶和蛋白酶K的影响;但不耐强酸、强碱,其适宜pH为4.0-10.0,表明HN-Q-8菌株活性物质具有良好的稳定性。活性成分能使立枯丝核菌菌丝形态畸形扭曲,从而抑制立枯丝核菌的生长,经鉴定活性物质为丰原素(fengycin)和表面活性素(surfactin)。【结论】贝莱斯芽胞杆菌HN-Q-8菌株发酵液具有较好的稳定性和较强的抑菌活性,具有良好的开发价值和应用前景。     

库尔勒香梨黑斑病菌拮抗菌筛选及其抑菌机理

【背景】由互隔交链孢(Alternaria alternata)引起的黑斑病是库尔勒香梨采后贮期的主要病害之一,严重影响果实品质,造成巨大的经济损失。【目的】筛选对梨黑斑病菌具有高拮抗活性的菌株并探究其可能的抑菌机制,为香梨采后保鲜提供理论依据。【方法】从库尔勒香梨园健康植株根际采集土壤样品,采用稀释涂布法分离细菌并进行纯化,通过平板对峙法和琼脂打孔法筛选对梨黑斑病菌具有显著拮抗作用的菌株,结合形态学观察和16S rRNA基因序列分析进行初步鉴定;通过平板对峙法对拮抗菌抑菌谱进行测定;采用特异性平板定性检测拮抗菌产酶活性,采用3,5-二硝基水杨酸比色法法及福林-酚法定量酶活;通过孢子萌发抑制试验和扫描电镜观察,测定拮抗菌对梨黑斑病菌的拮抗作用。【结果】筛选得到2株对梨黑斑病菌有较强抑制活性的菌株JE53和JE56,经分析鉴定为多粘类芽孢杆菌(Paenibacillus polymyxa)及枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis),其发酵上清液对梨黑斑病菌的抑菌圈直径分别为22.49 mm和22.40 mm。抑菌谱测定结果表明,菌株JE53和JE56对马铃薯黑痣病菌等9种植物病原菌均有不同程度的抑制作用。胞外酶测定结果显示这2株菌可产生4种胞外酶;其发酵上清液能够显著抑制病原菌孢子萌发,抑制率分别为70.30%和88.87%;扫描电镜发现这2株菌可导致病原菌菌丝表面粗糙、扭曲变形。【结论】JE53和JE56对梨黑斑病菌有较好的抑制效果,具有进一步开发和应用的潜力。     

甘蔗内生解淀粉芽孢杆菌CGB15的分离、鉴定及生防活性

真菌病害占作物病害种类的一半以上,病原真菌是目前已知种类最多的作物病原菌。从作物根际与/或体内分离筛选具有生防活性的微生物,并应用于病害的防控,是除作物品种改良与化学防治外的另一种高效的病害防控策略。【目的】本研究拟筛选并分离鉴定对重要作物病原真菌具有拮抗作用的甘蔗内生细菌,为开发生物防治作物真菌病害新策略提供理论依据。【方法】采用平板对峙法初步筛选对病原真菌具有拮抗能力的甘蔗叶片内生细菌,通过16SrRNA基因测序鉴定其种属;进一步检测候选拮抗内生细菌对甘蔗鞭孢堆黑粉菌(Sporisorium scitamineum)致病发育过程关键步骤：有性配合/菌丝生长、冬孢子萌发的抑制率,田间试验检测其对甘蔗鞭黑穗病的防治效果;检测候选拮抗内生细菌对稻梨孢菌(Pyricularia oryzae)附着胞形成、离体叶片及盆栽条件下叶片病斑形成的抑制作用。【结果】分离自甘蔗叶片的细菌菌株,编号为CGB15,经分子鉴定为解淀粉芽孢杆菌(Bacillus amyloliquefaciens)。CGB15菌株能有效抑制甘蔗鞭孢堆黑粉菌有性配合/菌丝生长,对峙培养条件下使真菌菌落呈现光滑;抑制冬孢子萌发,...     

嗜线虫致病杆菌的抑菌物质及抑菌活性

嗜线虫致病杆菌北京变种(Xenorhabdus nematophilavar.pekingense)是从北京地区采集的小卷蛾斯氏线虫(Steinernema carpocapsae)肠道内分离的共生细菌,具有自主知识产权,分离纯化出其发酵代谢物中的抗菌物质,进行抗菌活性测定,对研究该菌的抑菌机理以及开发利用具有重要意义。本文从该菌株代谢物中分离获得的抗菌物质经紫外光谱、红外光谱、核磁共振、高分辨质谱以及理化性质分析,鉴定为Xenocoumacin 1。用平板含毒培养基法测定了该物质对12种植物病原真菌的抑菌活性,研究表明,分离的活性物质具有较强的抑制活性,浓度在10μg/mL时,对黄瓜疫霉病菌、苎麻疫霉病菌、辣椒疫霉病菌,西葫芦灰霉病菌,苹果斑点落叶病菌的菌丝抑制率为100%。对草莓疫病病菌、苹果腐烂病菌、苹果褐斑病菌、蕃茄灰霉病菌、苹果轮纹病菌抑制率分别为86.8%、79.4%、79.5%、62.6%、53.6%;对其中6种真菌的EC50为0.25~4.17μg/mL,该物质对疫霉属真菌抑制作用最强,并能引起番茄晚疫病菌的菌丝生长畸形,原生质外溢。本文对开发新型生物杀菌剂的研究奠定了基础。     

水霉拮抗菌的筛选及其拮抗作用的初步研究

为了获得水产动物水霉病病原菌的拮抗微生物,以水霉为靶标,对其拮抗菌进行了筛选,并研究了拮抗作用最强菌株的拮抗活性.实验结果表明:从发生过水霉病害的水体中分离得到了130株细菌,能抑制水霉菌落生长的有三株:LD038、LD057和LD106,其中以LD038的拮抗作用最强,经梅里埃ATB微生物自动鉴定系统鉴定为黏质沙雷氏菌(Serratia marcescens).培养基对LD038的拮抗活性影响显著,LD038在PDA平板上表现出的拮抗活性最强,大小依次为PDA＞BHI＞GY＞CA＞Sabouraud.进一步对菌株LD038体外拮抗活性进行了研究.平板抑制实验表明,LD038能抑制水霉菌丝生长和孢子萌发.琼脂扩散法中,LD038菌落周围产生的抑菌圈直径为20mm,而无菌水对照组中水霉菌丝蔓过滤纸纸片并长至平板边缘;D38菌线间孢子的萌发与孢子距菌线的距离有关,距LD038菌线22mm范围内,孢子的萌发完全被抑制.无菌发酵上清液实验表明,与对照组相比,LD038无菌发酵上清液对孢子的萌发和菌丝生长都表现出显著的抑制作用.其中孢子较菌丝对上清液更为敏感,5倍稀释上清液下的孢子萌发率仅为10%,且萌发后的菌丝生长也同样受到抑制,整个实验过程中菌丝均未形成网状,对照组中萌发形成的菌丝在16h后呈网状.无菌上清原液和2倍稀释上清液中孢子均未萌发.对菌丝而言,仅无菌上清原液能彻底抑制菌丝生长,与对照组相比,2倍和5倍稀释上清液显著延缓了菌丝的生长.当对照组中的菌丝铺满整孔时,2倍和5倍稀释上清液中的菌丝长度分别为0和2.6mm.显微观察表明LD038的无菌发酵上清液导致水霉菌丝形态发生变化,较正常菌丝短而粗大,且出现了黑色原生质聚集.本研究为水霉病害的生物防治提供了一定的理论基础和依据.     

马铃薯晚疫病生防木霉菌的筛选及鉴定

采用马铃薯活体筛选法从268株木霉菌中筛选获得两株对致病疫霉有较强抑菌活性的木霉菌株R-5和T-15。这两株木霉菌代谢液可抑制病原菌生长及孢子囊萌发。温室防病试验发现,接种两株木霉菌可以减轻晚疫病的发生。田间试验进一步证明,两株木霉菌对晚疫病具有良好的田间防治效果,防效分别达到了72.4%和70.0%。经分子生物学方法鉴定,两株木霉菌分别为拟康氏木霉和棘孢木霉。实验构建的以活体筛选为基础的生防木霉菌筛选方法是一种可行高效的生防木霉菌筛选方式。     

THE REACTION OF VIRUS-INFECTED POTATO PLANTS TO PHYTOPHTHORA INFESTANS

The growth of Phytophthora infestans was retarded on leaves of potato plants that had been artificially inoculated with virus X or with virus Y.
Using different virus strains and potato varieties, the effect of virus infection on blight development was found to be greater, the more severe the systemic virus symptoms exhibited on the infected leaves before P. infestans inoculation.
The development of the fungus was never increased by virus infection.
The reduced blight development on virus-infected leaves is partially caused by an increase of resistance to infection. It is also suggested that virus infection alters the nutritional status of leaves to one less favourable for the development of P. infestans.     

Inhibitory effect of a defensin gene from the Andean crop maca (Lepidium meyenii) against Phytophthora infestans

In this study, we report the isolation of a defensin gene, lm-def, isolated from the Andean crop 'maca' (Lepidium meyenii) with activity against the pathogen Phytophthora infestans responsible of late blight disease of the potato and tomato crops. The lm-def gene has been isolated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using degenerate primers corresponding to conserved regions of 13 plant defensin genes of the Brassicaceae family assuming that defensin genes are highly conserved among cruciferous species. The lm-def gene belongs to a small multigene family of at least 10 members possibly including pseudogenes as assessed by genomic hybridization and nucleotide sequence analyses. The deduced mature Lm-Def peptide is 51 amino acids in length and has 74-94% sequence identity with other plant defensins of the Brassicaceae family. The Lm-Def peptide was produced as a fusion protein using the pET-44a expression vector and purified using an immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography. The recombinant protein (NusA:Lm-Def) exhibited in vitro activity against P. infestans. The NusA:Lm-Def protein caused growth inhibition and hyphal damage at concentration not greater than 0.4 microM. In contrast, the NusA protein alone expressed and purified similarly did not show any activity against P. infestans. Therefore, these results indicate that the lm-def gene isolated from maca belong to the plant defensin family with activity against P. infestans. Its expression in potato, as a transgene, might help to control the late blight disease caused by P. infestans with the advantage of being of plant origin.     

Expression of tobacco class II catalase gene activates the endogenous homologous gene and is associated with disease resistance in transgenic potato plants

We have previously shown that healthy potato plants respond poorly to salicylic acid (SA) for activating disease resistance against the late blight fungal pathogen Phytophthora infestans. However, SA is essential for the establishment of potato systemic acquired resistance (SAR) against P. infestans after treatment with the fungal elicitor arachidonic acid (AA). To understand the molecular mechanisms through which AA induces SA-dependent SAR in potato, we have recently studied the expression of potato class II catalase (Cat2St) in comparison with its tobacco homologue, Cat2Nt, which has previously been shown to bind SA. In the present study, we show that tobacco Cat2Nt is expressed at high levels and accounts for almost half of total SA-binding activity detected in tobacco leaves. In contrast, potato Cat2St is not expressed in healthy leaves, which is associated with the low SA responsiveness of potato plants for activation of disease resistance mechanisms. Upon treatment with AA, expression of potato Cat2St is induced not only in AA-treated leaves, but also in the upper untreated parts of the plants, concomitant with the establishment of SA -dependent SAR to P. infestans. Moreover, expression of the tobacco Cat2Nt gene in transgenic potato plants leads to constitutive expression of the endogenous potato Cat2St gene and is associated with enhanced resistance to P. infestans. These results collectively indicate that plant SA-binding class II catalases may play an important role in the development of disease resistance, possibly by serving as biological targets of SA.     

马铃薯非共生血红蛋白基因StHb1的克隆及表达

采用RT-PCR技术成功分离了马铃薯StHb1基因序列.经半定量RT-PCR分析表明,StHb1基因的表达在抗性品种(陇薯三号)和感性品种(荷兰十五)块茎中均受致病疫霉的侵染所抑制;StHb1基因在正常生长的马铃薯块茎组织中表达量最高;外源NO和H2O2的作用可明显地抑制StHb1基因的表达,但在抗性品种中该基因受抑制的程度低于感性品种.上述试验结果暗示了StHb1基因与马铃薯对致病疫霉侵染的抗性应答具有一定的相关性.     

Some fungal endophytes from vegetable crops and their anti-oomycete activities against tomato late blight

AIMS: To isolate endophytic fungi from vegetable plants and examine their in vivo anti-oomycete activity against Phytophthora infestans in tomato plants. METHODS AND RESULTS: Endophytic fungi were isolated from surface-sterilized plant tissues and anti-oomycete activity was measured by in vivo assay using tomato seedlings. Endophytic fungi showing potent anti-oomycete activity were identified by morphological characteristics and nuclear ribosomal ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 sequence analysis. A total of 152 isolates were obtained from 66 healthy tissue samples of cucumber, red pepper, tomato, pumpkin and Chinese cabbage and the fermentation broths of 23 isolates showed potent in vivo anti-oomycete activity against tomato late blight with control values over 90%. The Fusarium oxysporum strain EF119, which was isolated from roots of red pepper, showed the most potent disease control efficacy against tomato late blight. In dual-culture tests, it inhibited the growth of Pythium ultimum, P. infestans and Phytophthora capsici. CONCLUSIONS: Among endophytic fungi isolated from healthy tissues of vegetable plants, F. oxysporum EF119 showed the most potent in vivo anti-oomycete activity against tomato late blight and in vitro anti-oomycete activity against several oomycete pathogens. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Endophytic fungi showing anti-oomycete activity in vitro and in vivo may be used as biocontrol agents particularly of tomato late blight.     

Resistance to Phytophthora infestans in somatic hybrids of Solanum nigrum L. and diploid potato

In breeding for resistance to late blight, ( Phytophthora infestans Mont. de Bary), an economically important disease affecting potatoes, the search for new sources of durable resistance includes the non-host wild Solanum species. The aim of this work was to evaluate the resistance to P. infestans in the somatic hybrids between S. nigrum L. and diploid potato clone ZEL-1136. Sixteen somatic hybrids, their fusion parents, and three standard potato cultivars were screened for resistance to P. infestans in two types of tests-on whole plants and detached leaves-with two highly aggressive and virulent isolates of P. infestans, US8 and MP322. In the whole plant assay, the foliage of the somatic hybrids showed no symptoms of infection, while the foliage of the potato fusion parent and the standard cultivars was infected with P. infestans. In the detached leaflet assay, the breaking-down of resistance of the S. nigrum L. parent and the variable response of individual hybrid clones were noted. Nine S. nigrum L. (+) ZEL-1136 hybrids showed a resistance that was significantly higher than that of S. nigrum, while six clones expressed a resistance to P. infestans similar to that of S. nigrum. The results confirm the effective transfer of late blight resistance of S. nigrum into its somatic hybrids with potato.     

Purification of an isoform of patatin with antimicrobial activity against Phytophthora infestans.

Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary is infamous as the causal agent of the late blight epidemic contributing to the Irish potato famine of the mid 19th century and remains agriculture's most destructive disease as new mutations and migrations confound control measures. In efforts to develop resistant varieties, a somatic hybrid (the Wisconsin J series) between potato (Solanum tuberosum) and a wild relative (Solanum bulbocastanum) has been found to convey durable resistance against the pathogen. We screened the total protein (100 microg ml(-1)) of somatic hybrid varieties J138, J138A12, J101K12, J103K12, and J101K9 for in vitro spore germination inhibition of P. infestans. Since J138 exhibited maximum inhibition at 150 microg ml(-1) in comparison to other varieties, we purified a 40 kD protein from J138 tubers by assaying its ability to inhibit spore germination in P. infestans spores. The highly purified protein was able to inhibit P. infestans spore germination by 70% at the 2.5 microg ml(-1) concentration. The N-terminal sequence of this protein was found to have exact amino acid homology to patatin, the major storage protein of potato tubers. The inhibitory protein has the same molecular weight as patatin and cross-reacts with patatin antibodies. The infection of J138 plants with spores of P. infestans under greenhouse conditions showed that patatin is expressed in stem tissue 72 h after the plant is inoculated with field isolates of P. infestans (US8). In this communication, we report the purification, characterization and antifungal activity against spores of P. infestans of patatin-J from potato tubers.     

Role of the cyclic lipopeptide massetolide A in biological control of Phytophthora infestans and in colonization of tomato plants by Pseudomonas fluorescens

Pseudomonas strains have shown promising results in biological control of late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans. However, the mechanism(s) and metabolites involved are in many cases poorly understood. Here, the role of the cyclic lipopeptide massetolide A of Pseudomonas fluorescens SS101 in biocontrol of tomato late blight was examined. Pseudomonas fluorescens SS101 was effective in preventing infection of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) leaves by P. infestans and significantly reduced the expansion of existing late blight lesions. Massetolide A was an important component of the activity of P. fluorescens SS101, since the massA-mutant was significantly less effective in biocontrol, and purified massetolide A provided significant control of P. infestans, both locally and systemically via induced resistance. Assays with nahG transgenic plants indicated that the systemic resistance response induced by SS101 or massetolide A was independent of salicylic acid signalling. Strain SS101 colonized the roots of tomato seedlings significantly better than its massA-mutant, indicating that massetolide A was an important trait in plant colonization. This study shows that the cyclic lipopeptide surfactant massetolide A is a metabolite with versatile functions in the ecology of P. fluorescens SS101 and in interactions with tomato plants and the late blight pathogen P. infestans.