In vitro testing of anthelmintic efficacy of Flemingia vestita (Fabaceae) on carbohydrate metabolism in Rallietina echinobothrida

The root tuber peel of Flemingia vestita has been in use in local traditional medicine against intestinal worm infections in Meghalaya (North-East India). In order to evaluate and authenticate the anthelminitc efficacy of the isoflavones of F. vestita, the root peel extract of this putative plant was tested against several helminth parasites, extensively on Rallietina echinobothrida, with respect to different parameters of these parasites. In this paper, we describe various methods to evaluate the anthelmintic efficacy of this medicinal plant with respect to carbohydrate metabolism in R. echinobothrida at paralytic time caused by the isoflavones of F. vestita. To meet the high energy demand by the parasite due to the anthelmintic stress, glucose breakdown follows the PEPCK-malate pathway in the parasite.     

Anthelmintic efficacy of flemingia vestita (fabaceae): Genistein-induced alterations in the esterase activity in the cestode,raillietina echinobothrida

To ascertain the anthelmintic efficacy ofFlemingia vestita (an indigenous leguminous plant of Meghalaya, having putative anthelmintic usage), its crude root-tuber peel extract and active chemical principle, genistein, were testedin vitro with reference to esterase activity in the fowl tapeworm,Raillietina echinobothrida. With the localization of non-specific esterases (NSE) and cholinesterase (ChE), the organization of the cholinergic components of the nervous system in toto could be visualized in the cestodeo The specific ChE in the parasite is acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Both NSE and ChE were found in close association with the central and peripheral nervous components, besides being present in the tegument and muscular parts of the terminal male genitalia. The whole tissue homogenate of the parasite also showed a high AChE activity. After exposure to the crude peel extract (50 mg/ml of the incubation medium) and to genistein (0.5 mg/ml), a pronounced decline in the visible stain intensity in the cholinergic components of the nervous system and in the tegument was noticeable, indicating extremely reduced activity of NSE and ChE in these sites. The total AChE activity was also reduced to 4907% and 56–77%, following treatment with the peel extract and genistein, respectively. The reference drug, praziquantel (0.01 mg/ml) also caused reduction in the enzyme activity, somewhat at par with the genistein treatment. Genistein appears to have a transtegumental mode of action. Alteration in the AChE activity points towards acetylcholine, an inhibitory neurotransmitter in cestodes, as the potential target of action.     

Resveratrol induced structural and biochemical alterations in the tegument of Raillietina echinobothrida

The root tuber of Carex species has been used as an anthelmintic medicine for intestinal helminthic infections in the Northeast region of India. The main compound present in the root tuber of the genus Carex is resveratrol. Therefore, the present study was conducted to evaluate the anthelmintic effects of resveratrol in Raillietina echinobothrida by using motility observation, electron microscopy, histochemical and biochemical analysis. Resveratrol causes complete inactivation and flaccid paralysis of the cestode, followed by death. The treated parasites also exhibited extensive distortion of the surface fine topography and decrease in the activities of major tegumental enzymes compared to that of control parasite. Ultrastructural alterations include changes in cell organelles present in the tegument and sub-tegumental cyton. Extensive alterations in the surface topography of the treated parasites resulted in a decrease in the activities of tegumental enzyme which suggest that, resveratrol may be useful as a therapeutic agent to treat cestode parasites.     

Steroid hormone production by parasites: the case of Taenia crassiceps and Taenia solium cysticerci

Many examples of reciprocal endocrine interactions between parasites and hosts have been found in insects, arthropods and mammals. Cysticercosis produced by Taenia solium metacestodes is a widely distributed parasite infection that affects the human and the pig. Taenia crassiceps experimental murine cysticercosis has been used to explore the role of biological factors involved in host–parasite interactions. We had shown that T. crassiceps cysticercosis affects the serum concentration of steroid hormones and the reproduction behavior of the male mice host. In an effort to understand the biology of the parasite, we had investigated the parasite capacity to produce sex steroids. For this purpose, T. crassiceps cysticerci were incubated in the presence of different steroid precursors. TLC and recrystallization procedures showed that testosterone is produced from ³H-androstenedione in cysticerci. The conversion of ³H-testosterone to androstenedione, although present is much less significant. In addition, we had studied the production of testosterone by T. solium cysticerci. For this purpose, cysticerci were dissected from pork meat and incubated as above described. The results showed that T. solium cysticerci also produce testosterone. We have speculated about the importance of androgens in the growth of T. crassiceps cysticerci and found that the addition of the antiandrogen flutamide to the culture media of the parasites significantly decreased ³H-thymidine incorporation. We therefore hypothesized, that the ability of cysticerci to produce testosterone from steroid precursors might be important for the parasite growth and development.     

Changes in abundance of native and introduced parasites (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), and of the target and non-target plant bug species (Hemiptera: Miridae), during two classical biological control programs in alfalfa.

High numbers of tarnished plant bugs [Lygus lineolaris (Palisot)], were once common in alfalfa, as was a low level of parasitism (9%) by the native Peristenus pallipes (Curtis). After the bivoltine European parasite Peristenus digoneutis Loan became well established, average parasitism of the first and second generations increased to 64%, and tarnished plant bug numbers dropped by 65%. This reduced host density eventually caused a decline in total parasitism by both parasite species to 22%. A few P. digoneutis also attacked the alfalfa plant bug, Adelphocoris lineolatus (Goeze), but did not reduce this pest or increase its parasitism rate. At another location, where P. digoneutis is not established, parasitism of first generation alfalfa plant bugs, an adventive (accidently introduced) pest, was increased to 21% by the introduced univoltine parasite, Peristenus conradi Marsh, and a slight reduction in the pest may have resulted. P. digoneutis did not parasitize the meadow plant bug, Leptopterna dolabrata (L.), an adventive pest of forage grasses, so did not affect this mirid or its parasite. Neither introduced parasite eliminated the native parasites of the tarnished or alfalfa plant bugs. The narrow host ranges of the braconid parasites of mirid nymphs are contrasted with the broad host range of the native tachinid parasite [Phasia robertsoni (Towns.)] of adult mirids. The major changes in mirid abundance and their mortality by parasites that slowly occurred during this 19-year study demonstrate the need for long-term field research, to adequately document and understand these complex interactions.     

Use of Ethylene-Producing Bacteria for Stimulation of Striga spp. Seed Germination

Striga spp. are obligate root-parasitic flowering plants that threaten cereal and legume production, and consequently human well-being, in Africa. Successful control depends on eliminating the seed reserves of Striga spp. in soil and preventing parasitism. A proven method of eliminating these seed reserves is soil-injection of ethylene gas. This method was used successfully in the United States to control Striga asiatica, but injection of ethylene gas is potentially dangerous, very costly, and generally unsuitable in Africa. The bacterium Pseudomonas syringae pathovar glycinea synthesizes relatively large amounts of ethylene. In this study a laboratory procedure was developed for testing strains of P. syringae pv. glycinea for efficacy in stimulating germination of seeds of Striga spp. The procedure allows comparisons among bacteria, volatile compounds, root exudates, and synthetic stimulants for germination of Striga spp. seeds. Seeds of three Striga spp. were tested over a 10-month period. No seed germination was ever observed with sterile water. When compared across Striga spp. the bacterial strains were consistently better stimulators of germination of seeds of the parasites than ethylene gas or root pieces of a Vigna unguiculata cultivar known to stimulate germination of parasite seeds. The strains were as effective in germinating S. aspera and S. gesnerioides seeds as a synthetic germination stimulant. Our results showing that ethylene-producing bacteria are highly effective in promoting seed germination in Striga spp. suggest that these bacteria may provide a practical means of biological control of Striga spp. in Africa and other locations.     

粉葛主要营养物质、异黄酮成分的积累规律及其相关性分析

为确定粉葛的最佳采收时期及各部位的应用价值，探索粉葛主要营养物质与异黄酮成分的积累规律及相关关系，该研究以广西藤县粉葛为材料，采用测试盒法、酶重量法、索氏抽提法、高效液相色谱法等生理生化技术，测定了成熟期不同部位异黄酮成分的含量及不同生长时期粉葛块根主要营养物质、异黄酮成分的含量，并分析了各营养物质与异黄酮成分积累的相互关系。结果表明：(1)在成熟期，粉葛不同部位的染料木素含量差异均不显著，但叶片的大豆苷元含量显著小于中藤，根头和藤的总异黄酮、葛根素、大豆苷的含量显著大于叶片和块根，并且根头和藤的葛根素含量均超过1.00%。(2)不同生长时期，粉葛的淀粉、多糖、粗蛋白、可溶性蛋白的积累在11月和12月达到最大，不溶性膳食纤维的积累在12月最小，可溶性膳食纤维在8月和12月的积累量最大，总异黄酮和葛根素在8月和9月的积累量最大。(3)总异黄酮、葛根素的积累与淀粉、多糖的积累呈显著负相关，总异黄酮、葛根素的积累与不溶性膳食纤维的积累呈显著正相关。综上结果认为：粉葛的根头、藤蔓含有丰富的总异黄酮、葛根素、大豆苷，具有很好的药用开发价值；粉葛药用的最佳采收期为8月和9月，粉葛食用的最佳采收期为...     

Evaluation of the strains of Acinetobacter and Enterobacter as potential biocontrol agents against Ralstonia wilt of tomato

Bacterial wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum) of tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum, causes a considerable amount of damage to tomato in Southern China. Biological control is one of the more promising approaches to reduce the disease incidence and yield losses caused by this disease. Based on antagonistic activity against R. solanacearum and three soil-borne fungal pathogens as well as biocontrol efficacy in the greenhouse, two bacterial strains Xa6 (Acinetobacter sp.) and Xy3 (Enterobacter sp.) were selected out of fourteen candidates as potential biocontrol agents. In order to find a suitable antagonist inoculation method, we compared the methods of root-dipping with soil-drenching in the aspects including rhizocompetence, biocontrol efficacy, and effect of promoting plant growth under greenhouse conditions. The drenching treatment resulted in a higher biocontrol efficacy and plant-yield increase, and this method was also easier to operate in the field on a large scale. Field trials were conducted for further evaluation of these two antagonistic strains. In both greenhouse and field experiments, the strain Xy3 had a better control effect against bacterial wilt than Xa6 did, while Xa6 caused higher biomass or yield increases. As recorded on the 75th day after treatment in two field experiments, biocontrol efficacy of Xy3 was about 65% in both field trials, and the yield increases caused by Xa6 were 32.4 and 40.7%, respectively, in the two trials. This is the first report of an Acinetobacter sp. strain used as a BCA against Ralstonia wilt of tomato.     

Seedling vaccination by stem injecting a conidial suspension of F2, a non-pathogenic Fusarium oxysporum strain, suppresses Verticillium wilt of eggplant

Several bacterial and fungal strains have been evaluated as biocontrol agents (BCAs) against Verticillium dahliae. In these studies, the BCAs were applied as a root drenching inoculum; however, this application method may have an adverse effect on the native, beneficial for the plants, microbial community. In the present study, it was evaluated whether endophytic application by stem injecting a conidial suspension of the non pathogenic Fusarium oxysporum F2 strain, isolated from a V. dahliae suppressive compost amendment, could reduce significantly Verticillium wilt symptom development in eggplants. It was revealed that stem injection of F2 seven days before transplanting the seedlings to soil infested by V. dahliae microsclerotia resulted in reduced disease severity compared to the control treatment. To visualise F2 ramification into the plant vascular system eggplant stems were injected with an EGFP transformed F2 strain. It was shown that F2 colonises effectively the plant vascular tissues over a long period of time as it was assessed by F2 DNA levels. In parallel, qPCR analysis showed that the application of F2 reduced significantly the amount of V. dahliae DNA in the stem tissues compared to the control treatment.     

环链虫草Cordyceps cateniannulata对番茄生长和抗氧化酶活性的影响

【目的】评估环链虫草Cordyceps cateniannulata对植物促生和植物抗氧化酶活性的影响。【方法】本研究利用浸种法将环链虫草接种于番茄植物体,在接种后的第30天和60天,通过番茄株高、根长、地上和地下部分的干鲜重指标评价其对番茄生长的影响;在接种后第10、20、30、60和90天,通过选择性培养基分析其在番茄不同组织中的生存情况,使用形态学及DNA序列比对的方法检验所分离菌株与原有菌株的一致性。在处理后的第30天,检测番茄叶片中的过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)及丙二醛(MDA)含量,观察环链虫草对番茄的抗氧化酶活性影响。【结果】环链虫草可定殖于番茄幼苗且对番茄生长有显著促进作用,菌株对植株的定殖偏好性分别为根部>茎部>叶部。酶活检测结果表明,处理组番茄叶片防御酶活性均呈显著升高的趋势,其中POD、CAT、SOD活性分别比对照增加了52.21%、75.31%和158.59%,MDA含量下降了35.15%。【结论】环链虫草可以通过浸种的方法感染并定殖番茄幼苗的根、茎、叶,促进番茄幼苗的生长并提高番茄抗氧化酶活性,具有较好的田间...     

Trichogramma egg parasitism ofHelicoverpa armigera on short-duration pigeonpea intercultured with sorghum

The levels of egg parasitism byTrichogramma spp. (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) on populations ofHelicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) were recorded on sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) and on two flushes of flowers on short-duration pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.).H. armigera oviposition was concentrated on the early flowering stage of sorghum and the flowering and early podding stages of both flushes of pigeonpea. Parasitism on sorghum increased rapidly as egg density increased and reached a peak of 74.6%. Parasitism on pigeonpea was concentrated onH. armigera eggs laid on the first flush of pigeonpea flowers with a maximum of 69.2%. These high levels of parasitism on pigeonpea coincided with the period of parasite activity on sorghum. The levels of parasitism then declined rapidly and only very low levels were detected on a second flush of flowers. This rapid decline resulted in the overall egg mortality caused byTrichogramma on pigeonpea to be low, with a maximum of 7.8% caused by parasitism, compared to 34.4% on sorghum. The pattern of parasitism suggests that a transfer of parasites occurred from sorghum to pigeonpea. The rapid decline of parasitism on the pigeonpea indicates that parasite populations cannot be sustained on pigeonpea once the influx from sorghum stops. The results are discussed in terms of a possible method of encouraging the transfer of parasites from sorghum to short-duration pigeonpea by producing a more continuous cropping environment.     

Suppression of maize root diseases caused by Macrophomina phaseolina, Fusarium moniliforme and Fusarium graminearum by plant growth promoting rhizobacteria

A plant growth-promoting isolate of a fluorescent Pseudomonas sp. EM85 and two bacilli isolates MR-11(2) and MRF, isolated from maize rhizosphere, were found strongly antagonistic to Fusarium moniliforme, Fusarium graminearum and Macrophomina phaseolina, causal agents of foot rots and wilting, collar rots/stalk rots and root rots and wilting, and charcoal rots of maize, respectively. Pseudomonas sp. EM85 produced antifungal antibiotics (Afa⁺), siderophore (Sid⁺), HCN (HCN⁺) and fluorescent pigments (Flu⁺) besides exhibiting plant growth promoting traits like nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, and production of organic acids and IAA. While MR-11(2) produced siderophore (Sid⁺), antibiotics (Afa⁺) and antifungal volatiles (Afv⁺), MRF exhibited the production of antifungal antibiotics (Afa⁺) and siderophores (Sid⁺). Bacillus spp. MRF was also found to produce organic acids and IAA, solubilized tri-calcium phosphate and fixed nitrogen from the atmosphere. All three isolates suppressed the diseases caused by Fusarium moniliforme, Fusarium graminearum and Macrophomina phaseolina in vitro. A Tn5:: lac Z induced isogenic mutant of the fluorescent Pseudomonas EM85, M23, along with the two bacilli were evaluated for in situ disease suppression of maize. Results indicated that combined application of the two bacilli significantly (P = 0.05) reduced the Macrophomina-induced charcoal rots of maize by 56.04%. Treatments with the MRF isolate of Bacillus spp. and Tn5:: lac Z mutant (M23) of fluorescent Pseudomonas sp. EM85 significantly reduced collar rots, root and foot rots, and wilting of maize caused by Fusarium moniliforme and F. graminearum (P = 0.05) compared to all other treatments. All these isolates were found very efficient in colonizing the rhizotic zones of maize after inoculation. Evaluation of the population dynamics of the fluorescent Pseudomonas sp. EM85 using the Tn5:: lac Z marker and of the Bacillus spp. MRF and MR-11(2) using an antibiotic resistance marker revealed that all the three isolates could proliferate successfully in the rhizosphere, rhizoplane and endorhizosphere of maize, both at 30 and 60 days after seeding. Four antifungal compounds from fluorescent Pseudomonas sp. EM85, one from Bacillus sp. MR-11(2) and three from Bacillus sp. MRF were isolated, purified and tested in vitro and in thin layer chromatography bioassays. All these compounds inhibited R. solani, M. phaseolina, F. moniliforme, F. graminearum and F. solani strongly. Results indicated that antifungal antibiotics and/or fluorescent pigment of fluorescent Pseudomonas sp. EM85, and antifungal antibiotics of the bacilli along with the successful colonization of all the isolates might be involved in the biological suppression of the maize root diseases.     

拟南芥表皮毛发育突变体abt3-1的基因定位及表型分析

在发掘和鉴定调控植物表皮毛发育的新因子过程中,获得了一个表皮毛发育异常的拟南芥隐性突变体abt3-1(aberrantly branched trichome 3-1)。与野生型拟南芥(Col-0)相比,其表皮毛分支数目明显增加。另外,abt3-1还表现出植株小、叶形宽、叶色发灰、主根短等发育缺陷。利用图位克隆技术将该突变基因ABT3定位在1号染色体上,分子标记在F28G11#3与F4N21#1之间,物理距离为134kb。该研究将为进一步克隆ABT3基因及研究其在调控植物生长发育过程中的作用奠定基础。     

Anthelmintic efficacy of Flemingia vestita: genistein-induced effect on the activity of nitric oxide synthase and nitric oxide in the trematode parasite,Fasciolopsis buski

The root-tuber peel of Flemingia vestita, an indigenous leguminous plant of Meghalaya (Northeast India), has usage in local traditional medicine as curative against worm infections. The peel and its active component, genistein, have been shown to cause flaccid paralysis, deformity of tegumental architecture and alterations in the activity of several enzymes in platyhelminth parasites. To investigate further the mode of action and anthelmintic efficacy of the plant-derived components, the crude peel extract of F. vestita and genistein were tested, hitherto for the first time, in respect of the unique neuronal messenger nitric oxide (NO) and the enzyme nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in Fasciolopsis buski, the large intestinal fluke of swine and human host. NADPH-diaphorase histochemical staining (a selective marker for NOS in neuronal tissues), which was demonstrable in the neuronal cell bodies in the cerebral ganglia, the brain commissure, the main nerve cords and in the innervation of the pharynx, ventral sucker, terminal genitalia and genital parenchyma of the parasite, showed a stronger activity in the treated worms. In biochemical analysis also, the NOS activity showed a significant increase in the parasites treated with the test materials and reference drug, compared to the untreated controls. The increase in NOS activity in the treated parasites can be attributed to an inducing effect of the plant-derived components.     

Babesia gibsoni: Detection in blood smears and formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues using deoxyribonucleic acid in situ hybridization analysis

In this study, we attempted to detect Babesia gibsoni in blood smears and formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues obtained from B. gibsoni-infected dogs using in situ hybridization. Using a digoxigenin-conjugated deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) probe, both intraerythrocytic and exoerythrocytic parasites in the culture could be specifically stained in blood smears fixed with 4% phosphate-buffered paraformaldehyde. This indicated that genomic DNA extracted from the parasites could be detected using in situ hybridization. Moreover, the parasite could be specifically stained in paraffin-embedded spleen, lymph node, and kidney sections using in situ hybridization. Infected erythrocytes in blood vessels in the spleen and kidney, hemosiderin-laden macrophages in the spleen, and phagocytized erythrocytes, which seemed to be infected with the parasites, in lymph nodes were also specifically stained. This suggests that in situ hybridization can be utilized to investigate both the life cycle of B. gibsoni and the pathological condition of canine babesiosis.     

Temporal patterns of occurrence and transmission of the blood parasite Haemoproteus payevskyi in the great reed warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus

We studied the prevalence and intensity of the haemosporidian blood parasite Haemoproteus payevskyi in great reed warblers at Lake Kvismaren (6 years) and Lake Segersj? (3 years) in Sweden. Based on microscopic inspection of slides from 282 adult birds, 20.6% showed infection of H. payevskyi in circulating red blood cells in at least 1 year. For parasite prevalence, there was no difference between years, sex, and age classes. However, parasite intensity was higher in females than in males, and this was most pronounced in 1-year-old birds. Individuals scored to carry parasites in year _n were more likely to show parasite infection year _n + 1 than birds scored to be parasite-free in year _n . None of 99 juvenile birds examined at the breeding site in late summer, 4–9 weeks after hatching, showed infection of H. payevskyi. Parasite intensity in infected adult birds decreased in the course of the breeding season and no new or relapse infections were observed during this period. Thus, our data imply that in the great reed warbler, a long-distance migrant to tropical Africa, transmission of H. payevskyi occurs on wintering sites or at stopover sites during migration.     

Infection with the protozoan parasite Bonamia ostreae modifies in vitro haemocyte activities of flat oyster Ostrea edulis

Bonamia ostreae is an intracellular protozoan parasite, infecting haemocytes of the European flat oyster Ostrea edulis. Oyster defence mechanisms mainly rely on haemocytes. In the present study in vitro interactions between parasites and flat oyster haemocytes were investigated using flow cytometry and light microscopy.Haemocyte parameters including: non specific esterase activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and phagocytosis were monitored using flow cytometry after 2 h cell incubation with live and dead B. ostreae. Two ratios of parasites per haemocyte were tested (5:1 and 10:1), haemocytes alone were used as controls and the experiment was carried out three times. Flow cytometry revealed a decrease of non specific esterase activities and ROS production by haemocytes after incubation with live parasites, while there was little difference in phagocytosis activity when compared with controls. Similarly, dead parasites induced a decrease in haemocyte activities but to a lesser extent compared to live parasites. These results suggest that B. ostreae actively contributes to the modification of haemocyte activities in order to ensure its own intracellular survival.     

Interactions between population processes in a cyclic species: parasites reduce autumn territorial behaviour of male red grouse

The causes of population cycles fascinate and perplex ecologist. Most work have focused on single processes, whether extrinsic or intrinsic, more rarely on how different processes might interact to cause or mould the unstable population dynamics. In red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scoticus), two causal mechanisms have been supported: territorial behaviour (changes in autumn aggressiveness) and parasites (parasite induced reduction in fecundity). Here, we report on how these two regulatory processes might interact, by testing whether the parasite suspected to cause the grouse cycles, the nematode Trichostrongylus tenuis, reduces male autumn territorial behaviour. We either treated males with an anthelmintic, to remove parasites (dosed or D-males), or challenged them with infective T. tenuis larvae, to increase parasite intensity (challenged or C-males). We first show that dosing was effective in removing T. tenuis parasites, while parasite intensities increased in challenged birds during the autumn. Because old males initially had more parasites than young males, the treatments generated greater differences in parasite intensity in old than in young males. We also show that various aspects of territorial behaviour (increase in testosterone-dependent comb size in autumn, territorial call rate, likelihood of winning territorial interactions and over-winter survival) were significantly higher in dosed than in challenged males, but in old birds only. Our data thus supported the hypothesis that parasites reduce male aggressiveness during the autumn territorial contests, and could thereby influence recruitment. Our results also highlight that the territorial behaviour of young males, which have fewer parasites, is not as limited by parasites as that of old, previously territorial males. We discuss the implications of these findings for our understanding of the processes regulating red grouse populations and causing their complex, unstable population dynamics.     

Evaluation of endophytic actinobacteria as antagonists of Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici in wheat

Endophytic actinobacteria isolated from healthy cereal plants were assessed for their ability to control fungal root pathogens of cereal crops both in vitro and in planta. Thirty eight strains belonging to the genera Streptomyces, Microbispora, Micromonospora, and Nocardioidies were assayed for their ability to produce antifungal compounds in vitro against Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici (Ggt), the causal agent of take-all disease in wheat, Rhizoctonia solani and Pythium spp. Spores of these strains were applied as coatings to wheat seed, with five replicates (25 plants), and assayed for the control of take-all disease in planta in steamed soil. The biocontrol activity of the 17 most active actinobacterial strains was tested further in a field soil naturally infested with take-all and Rhizoctonia. Sixty-four percent of this group of microorganisms exhibited antifungal activity in vitro, which is not unexpected as actinobacteria are recognized as prolific producers of bioactive secondary metabolites. Seventeen of the actinobacteria displayed statistically significant activity in planta against Ggt in the steamed soil bioassay. The active endophytes included a number of Streptomyces, as well as Microbispora and Nocardioides spp. and were also able to control the development of disease symptoms in treated plants exposed to Ggt and Rhizoctonia in the field soil. The results of this study indicate that endophytic actinobacteria may provide an advantage as biological control agents for use in the field, where others have failed, due to their ability to colonize the internal tissues of the host plant.