Molecular detection and beta-glucuronidase expression of gus-marked Bacillus subtilis L-form bacteria in developing Chinese cabbage seedlings

AIM: To detect L-form bacteria in developing Chinese cabbage seedlings. METHODS AND RESULTS: Stable Bacillus subtilis L-forms were genetically modified to express the gus gene (encoding beta-glucuronidase). Germinated seeds of Chinese cabbage were soaked in mannitol based suspensions of the L-form bacteria or with mannitol alone and after washing were grown in aseptic conditions on plant growth medium. Histochemical staining of beta-glucuronidase activity (X-gluc) and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) detection of the gus gene were achieved in the L-form associated seedlings. beta-Glucuronidase was localized in discrete spots, mainly in the roots with staining, and was also observed in the cotyledons and base of stems. Correlation was observed between PCR detection of the gus gene and histochemical staining with detection in similar tissues. Stable L-form bacteria were non-culturable after their association with plant material. CONCLUSIONS: The gus reporter gene system with its associated histological staining for enzyme activity was used successfully for detecting B. subtilis L-form bacteria in plant material. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: These molecular marked L-forms should provide a specific and sensitive technique for detecting L-form bacteria in planta and offer a method for further understanding the L-form/plant association.     

An ELISA for the detection of Bacillus subtilis L-form bacteria confirms their symbiosis in strawberry

AIMS: To develop an ELISA for the detection of antigens derived from stable Bacillus subtilis L-form bacteria and to detect these in plants injected with L-form bacteria. METHODS AND RESULTS: A sandwich ELISA was developed and its specificity was investigated using L-forms and cell-walled forms of B. subtilis, different Bacillus species and a range of bacteria isolated from glasshouse-grown strawberry plants. The detection limits of the ELISA were approximately 10(3) viable cells ml(-1) for L-forms compared with 10(7) viable cells ml(-1) for cell-walled forms. Results showed that L-forms survived and moved within strawberry tissues injected with L-form bacteria. CONCLUSION: An ELISA that selectively detects B. subtilis L-form bacteria was developed and shown to confirm the presence of L-forms in plants. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This will be a valuable rapid method to further studies on L-form plant interactions.     

Biocontrol agents of Botrytis cinerea tested in climate chambers by making artificial infection on tomato leafs

To reduce the use of chemical agents, that are causing damage to the environment, in the fight against Botrytis cinerea, different BCA's were tested for their possibility to control Botrytis cinerea in a biological way. In order to investigate the effectiveness of the different micro organisms and Elot-Vis, experiments were carried out in climate chambers with 5 weeks old tomato plants. Leafs on the plant were inoculated with drops of a suspension that contained spores of Botrytis cinerea. The possible antagonists that were tested in these experiments were Trichoderma harzianum (Trichodex), T. asperellum (Biofungus), T. hamatum (T382), Bacillus subtilis (Serenade and Phytovit) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (7NSK2 and KMPCH). For all these different micro organisms the direct and the indirect influence on Botrytis cinerea was investigated. In tests where the direct influence of the antagonists was examined, the spores of the moulds or the bacteria were suspended together with spores of Botrytis cinerea and subsequently drops of this suspension were pippeted on the leafs. After a while by ideal circumstances for Botrytis cinerea the infections on the inoculated leafs were counted. For the indirect influence of the antagonists, also leafs of 5 weeks old tomato plants were inoculated with a suspension of Botrytis cinerea spores. The roots of the tomato plants that were used for testing the indirect influence were treated during there growth with a suspension of the antagonist to see if induced systemic resistance pathway (ISR) was activated. For testing the effectiveness of Elot-Vis, tomato plants were sprayed a few times with a solution of this product during their growth. Results of the climate chamber test of the plants that were treated with Elot-Vis, showed a reduction of Botrytis cinerea infections on the inoculated leafs. Biological control agents seem to be not always very effective against Botrytis cinerea. The biological control agents that are containing micro organisms are also depending on the circumstances of the environment for an optimal development. These conditions are not always that optimal to compete with Botrytis cinerea or other micro organisms that are present on the plant.     

Mode of antagonism of Brevibacillus brevis against Botrytis cinerea in vitro

AIMS: To assess the activity of Brevibacillus brevis (formerly Bacillus brevis) Nagano and the antibiotic it produces, gramicidin S, against the plant pathogen Botrytis cinerea. METHODS AND RESULTS: Germination and growth of Bot. cinerea were assessed in the presence of B. brevis or gramicidin S in liquid media, on solid media and on leaf sections of Chinese cabbage. Germination was 10-fold more sensitive to gramicidin S than growth. Inhibition of Bot. cinerea was greater in liquid media compared with on solid media. Activity of gramicidin S against Bot. cinerea on leaf sections was much lower than in vitro. In vitro inhibition of Bot. cinerea by B. brevis Nagano was similar to equivalent levels of gramicidin. CONCLUSIONS: Antibiosis, via gramicidin S, is the mode of antagonism exhibited by B. brevis Nagano against Bot. cinerea in vitro. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The mode of antagonism of B. brevis against Bot. cinerea was elucidated. The differing activity of gramicidin S against Bot. Cinerea in vitro and on leaf sections indicates one mechanism by which biocontrol activity may differ between laboratory and field conditions.     

生防工程菌株BS-17A稳定性与抑菌活性初步研究

目的:BS-17是内生细菌,对番茄灰霉病菌、叶霉病菌和枯萎病菌具有显著抑菌活性,为了跟踪研究野生型菌株BS-17在番茄根围和叶围的定殖情况,构建了1株带有黄绿荧光蛋白基因标记的生防菌株BS-17A.方法:采用NYD连续培养的方法和平皿抑菌试验的方法对工程菌株的遗传稳定性和抑菌活性进行了初步研究.结果:该工程菌在无选择压力培养基中连续培养50h,质粒遗传稳定性为94%,对番茄灰霉病菌Botrytis cinerea、叶霉病菌Cladosporiumfulvum和枯萎病菌Fusarium oxysporum的抑制作用与野生菌无显著差异,平皿抑菌率分别为85.5%、86.5%和89.8%.结论:该工程菌具有较强的遗传稳定性和抑菌活性.     

Evaluation of the effects of biological preparations on phytopathogenic fungi Didymella applanata and Botrytis cinerea

Fungicidal and fungistatic effects of biological preparations involving bacteria of the genera Pseudomonas and Bacillus and fungi of the genus Chaetomium on phytopathogenic fungi Didymella applanata and Botrytis cinerea were evalauated. All the biological preparations under study inhibited the growth of colonies of the fungi; however, the degree of the inhibition depended on the nature of each particular microorganism and the concentration of each particular preparation. The preparation containing Bacillus subtilis at a concentration of 0.2% effected maximum suppression of B. cinerea (the diameter of the colonies decreased sevenfold). The preparations containing bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas and fungi of the genus Chaetomium were most efficient in suppressing D. applanata. The preparations containing B. subtilis and Chaetomium spp. showed promise as agents against simultaneous development of spur blight and Botrytis blight.     

枯草芽孢杆菌BS2对葡萄灰霉病菌抑菌机制的初步探索

对葡萄灰霉病菌的生防枯草芽孢杆菌BS2菌液成分及胞外蛋白的抑菌机制进行了初步研究,BS2对葡萄灰霉病菌具有较好的拮抗作用,其菌液成分和胞外蛋白经20°C-120°C处理后,抑菌效果存在差异。BS2的菌液成分及胞外蛋白对灰霉病菌的产孢、萌发和菌丝的生长等方面均具有较好的抑制作用,且对灰霉病菌菌丝的原生质有囊泡和颗粒化现象。由此分析,BS2抑菌活性物质是多种成分共同作用的结果,抑菌物质中含有对温度敏感的高分子蛋白质,且抑菌机制也是从多方面共同起作用。     

Role of lipopeptides produced by Bacillus subtilis GA1 in the reduction of grey mould disease caused by Botrytis cinerea on apple

AIM: Test of Bacillus subtilis strain GA1 for its potential to control grey mould disease of apple caused by Botrytis cinerea. METHODS AND RESULTS: GA1 was first tested for its ability to antagonize in vitro the growth of a wide variety of plant pathogenic fungi responsible for diseases of economical importance. The potential of strain GA1 to reduce post-harvest infection caused by B. cinerea was tested on apples by treating artificially wounded fruits with endospore suspensions. Strain GA1 was very effective at reducing disease incidence during the first 5 days following pathogen inoculation and a 80% protection level was maintained over the next 10 days. Treatment of fruits with an extract of GA1 culture supernatant also exerted a strong preventive effect on the development of grey mould. Further analysis of this extract revealed that strain GA1 produces a wide variety of antifungal lipopeptide isomers from the iturin, fengycin and surfactin families. A strong evidence for the involvement of such compounds in disease reduction arose from the recovery of fengycins from protected fruit sites colonized by bacterial cells. CONCLUSIONS: The results presented here demonstrate that, despite unfavourable pH, B. subtilis endospores inoculated on apple pulp can readily germinate allowing significant cell populations to establish and efficient in vivo synthesis of lipopeptides which could be related to grey mould reduction. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This work enables for the first time to correlate the strong protective effect of a particular B. subtilis strain against grey mould with in situ production of fengycins in infected sites of apple fruits.     

Bacillus isolates from the spermosphere of peas and dwarf French beans with antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea and Pythium species

A range of isolation procedures including washing, sonication and incubation in nutrient broth were used separately and in combination to obtain potential bacterial antagonists to Botrytis cinerea and Pythium mamillatum from the testae and cotyledons of peas and dwarf French beans. Heat treatment was also used to bias this selection towards spore-forming bacteria. Ninety-two bacterial isolates were obtained, 72 of which were provisionally characterized as species of Bacillus . Four of these Bacillus isolates (B3, C1, D4 and J7) displayed distinct antagonism in vitro against Botrytis cinerea and P. mamillatum when screened using dual culture analysis. Further characterization of these antagonists using API 50CHB biochemical profiling identified isolate D4 as Bacillus polymyxa and isolates B3, C1 and J7 as strains of B. subtilis . In vitro screening techniques, using cell-free and heat-killed extracts of liquid cultures against Botrytis cinerea , demonstrated the production of antifungal compounds by these four Bacillus antagonists. With each isolate the antifungal activity was found not to be either exclusively spore-bound nor released entirely into the medium but present in both fractions. The antifungal compounds produced by these isolates were shown to be heat-stable. Their identification, production and release require further study for exploitation as biocontrol systems.     

The potential biocontrol agent Pseudomonas antimicrobica inhibits germination of conidia and outgrowth of Botrytis cinerea

AIMS: Antifungal metabolites of Pseudomonas antimicrobica have previously been shown to inhibit conidial germination of the grey mould pathogen Botrytis cinerea. In this study, metabolites of the bacterium have been tested at different stages of Botrytis germination to determine their effects on germ tube production and extension. METHODS AND RESULTS: Metabolites were added to conidia that had been pre-incubated for either 120 or 255 min. Pseudomonas antimicrobica inhibited B. cinerea conidial germination and caused a significant reduction in germ tube extension, irrespective of the stage of germination. Abnormal germination and a reduction in the frequency of lateral branching of the germ tubes in the presence of the metabolites were also reported, suggesting interference with normal hyphal development. CONCLUSION: The bacterium can inhibit germination of conidia and extension of germ tubes at different stages of Botrytis development. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The antagonistic activity of the bacterium has promising implications for its use as a biocontrol agent.     

Different products for biological control of Botrytis cinerea examined on wounded stem tissue of tomato plants

For the moment the agents that are used against Botrytis cinerea, in glasshouses were tomatoes are cultivated, are from chemical origin. For reducing the use of chemical agents in the future it is important to search for effective biological control agents against the fight of Botrytis cinerae. The following biological products Vital pasta, Vital gel and Elot-Vis were examined in there possibility to control Botrytis cinerea. Elot Vis was tested out in experiments that were carried out in climate chambers were leafs of 3 week old tomato plants were artificially infected with Botrytis cinerea spores. Also the biological products of Vital were first investigated in experiments that were carried out in climate chambers. In stead off leafs of tomato plants it were stem wounds of tomato plants who were treated with the pasta or the gel that was spread over the wounded surface after this has been inoculated with a suspension of conidia of Botrytis cinerae. The results of these first tests that were executed in the climate chambers were the circumstances for Botrytis cinerea were ideal seemed promising. In the next step these products were tested out on large scale in glasshouses. For each plant 5 wounds were created by removing the leafs, these wounds were or first treated with the Biological product and thereafter artificially infected with Botrytis cinerea spores to check out if these products can be used as a preventive agent or the wounds were first inoculated with a suspension of Botrytis cinerea spores and thereafter treated with the product. For the product Elot-Vis a few plants were totally sprayed with an Elot-Vis suspension before leafs were removed and the wounds were inoculated with conidia of Botrytis cinerea to check out if this product was able to activated the induced systemic resistance pathway. The experiments that were executed in glasshouses showed different percentages of succeeded Botrytis cinerea infections. This is probable due to the different weather conditions during both days that the experiments were executed. For the wounds that were treated with pasta it was difficult to distinguish wounds were Botrytis cinerea succeeded to infect the plant, because these wounds frequently didn't show any sign of infection on the surface but when the wounds with the pasta were cut open it was possible to see Botrytis cinerea infections inside the stem.     

枯草芽孢杆菌JA脂肽类及挥发性物质抑菌效应的研究

枯草芽孢杆菌JA产生的脂肽类抗生素对植物病原真菌有广谱抗性.将发酵液经过酸沉淀、甲醇抽提以及反相高效液相色谱等步骤,分离得到脂肽类抗生素的纯品.经IC50实验和抗菌谱测定,考察了脂肽类抗生素对多种植物病原菌的作用,确定了脂肽类抗生素的抗菌谱.深入研究表明,枯草芽孢杆菌JA还产生未知成分的挥发性抑菌物质,能够抑制灰霉病菌孢子的萌发和菌丝的生长.脂肽类抗生素和挥发性抑菌物质的协同作用,有助于提高枯草芽孢杆菌的生物防治效果.     

An investigation of enumeration and DNA partitioning in Bacillus subtilis L-form bacteria

R.N. WATERHOUSE, E.J. ALLAN, F. AMIJEE, V.J. UNDRILL AND L.A. GLOVER. 1994. Cell numbers of two morphogenic forms of Bacillus subtilis (the cell-walled parental and the derived stable cell wall-deficient L-form) have been compared by two methods: DNA hybridization (i.e. deduced genome numbers) and viable cell counts (i.e. number of colony-forming units (cfu)). The DNA hybridization method was shown to be a reliable and reproducible method for estimating genome numbers. Comparison of different L-form populations showed that the two methods of enumeration gave different values, with the deduced genome numbers much higher (by several orders of magnitude) than cell numbers deduced from viable cell counts. In contrast, when a culture of the cell-walled form was enumerated, the discrepancy between the two methods was low (by a factor of about 6) The combination of a high number of L-form genomes detected by DNA hybridization and a relatively low number of cfu was thought to be a consequence of a diminished co-ordination between the DNA replication and cell division processes in L-form bacteria. This suggestion was further substantiated by assessing the stability of plasmid pPL608 in a transformed B. subtilis L-form cell line, where even in the presence of continued kanamycin selection, 25% of the population lost kanamycin resistance. The results are discussed with particular reference to cell division in cell wall-deficient, stable L-form bacteria.     

枯草芽孢杆菌JA脂肽类及挥发性物质抑菌效应的研究

枯草芽孢杆菌JA产生的脂肽类抗生素对植物病原真菌有广谱抗性。将发酵液经过酸沉淀、甲醇抽提以及反相高效液相色谱等步骤, 分离得到脂肽类抗生素的纯品。经IC50实验和抗菌谱测定, 考察了脂肽类抗生素对多种植物病原菌的作用, 确定了脂肽类抗生素的抗菌谱。深入研究表明, 枯草芽孢杆菌JA还产生未知成分的挥发性抑菌物质, 能够抑制灰霉病菌孢子的萌发和菌丝的生长。脂肽类抗生素和挥发性抑菌物质的协同作用, 有助于提高枯草芽孢杆菌的生物防治效果。     

番茄灰霉病拮抗内生细菌的筛选、鉴定及其活性

对安徽省淮北市番茄植株根、茎、叶中内生细菌及其数量进行了调查和筛选,并测定了其抑菌活性。结果表明,番茄根、茎和叶中的内生细菌的数量分别为5.69×105、5.16×105和2.83×105CFU.g-1鲜重。根据分离部位和表型特征,从健康番茄植株体内分离到267株内生细菌,通过对峙实验,筛选到11株对番茄灰霉病菌有拮抗作用的菌株,占所分离内生细菌总数的4.12%。来自茎组织中的菌株XF136的抑菌效果最佳,抑菌带宽度达32.2mm。根据形态特征、生理生化特性、(G+C)mol%和16SrDNA序列分析,将菌株XF136鉴定为解淀粉芽孢杆菌(Bacillus amyloliquefaciens)。室内测定菌株XF136发酵滤液对灰霉病菌菌丝生长及分生孢子萌发的抑制作用,结果表明,菌株XF136发酵滤液可以抑制灰霉病菌菌丝生长和分生孢子萌发,且浓度越高,抑制能力越强;当发酵滤液浓度为20%时则完全抑制灰霉病菌菌丝生长和分生孢子萌发。盆栽防效试验结果表明,10%菌株XF136发酵滤液对番茄灰霉病防治效果与50%多菌灵600倍液相当,20%发酵滤液对番茄灰霉病的防治效果高于50%多菌灵600倍液。本研究表明,菌株XF136是防治番茄灰霉病潜在的优良生防菌株,具有良好的开发应用价值。     

Isolation of Microbial Antagonists for Biocontrol of Grey Mould Disease of Strawberries

A screening programme is described for the assessment of the potential of biocontrol agents to control grey mould of strawberries caused by Botrytis cinerea. Bacteria were isolated from strawberry fruits, leaves and flowers from a commercial field site and screened for antagonism towards B. cinerea using two in vitro and one in vivo screening techniques. From 559 microorganisms isolated, 108 inhibited pathogen growth on agar plates and 27 of these prevented spore germination on Cellophane membranes. The ability of these 27 isolates to inhibit infection of young strawberry leaves by B. cinerea on whole plants under glass was then tested. Seven isolates reduced grey mould development and were subsequently assessed in a field trial. Two isolates, one of Bacillus pumilus and one of Pseudomonas fluorescens, were as effective or more effective than standard dichlofluanid sprays and may therefore be of potential value as antagonists of B. cinerea.     

辣椒根腐病拮抗细菌的筛选及其生物学特性研究

以辣椒根腐病原菌(Fusarium solani)为指示菌,从贵州辣椒根际筛选到5株具有明显拮抗效果的细菌,编号分别为:SC2、SC2-4、SC2-4-1、SC2-4-2、SC2-4X.上述菌株抗菌谱较广,对黄瓜枯萎病原菌(Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.cucumerinum)、黄瓜霜霉病原菌(Pseudoperonospora cubensis)、芹菜灰霉病原菌(Botrytis cinerea Pers)以及西红柿灰霉病原菌(Botrytis cinerea)也具有良好的拮抗性能.经形态学测定、生理生化分析和16S rDNA序列分析,将SC2、SC2-4-2、SC--4X鉴定为多粘类芽孢杆菌(Paenibacillus polymyxa),SC2-4、SC2-4-1鉴定为枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis).SC2菌株产生的抗菌物质可能为蛋白类或抗菌肽类物质.     

弯曲平脐蠕孢拮抗细菌的筛选、鉴定及拮抗作用

【背景】玉米弯曲平脐蠕孢是引起玉米叶斑病的主要病原,严重危害农业生产。利用细菌防治弯曲平脐蠕孢是目前研究的热点。【目的】筛选对玉米弯曲平脐蠕孢有高拮抗性的菌株,对其进行鉴定并探究其拮抗机制。【方法】采用平板对峙法,从玉米田地表下土壤分离获得22株细菌,再经过复筛得到一株对玉米弯曲平脐蠕孢具有较高拮抗活性的菌株L-14。【结果】筛选发现,菌株L-14对层出镰孢(Fusariumproliferatum)、禾谷镰孢(Fusariumgraminearum)、大斑凸脐蠕孢(Exserohilum turcicum)、弯曲平脐蠕孢(Bipolaris papendorfii)和灰霉病菌(Botrytis cinerea) 5种植物病原真菌均有抑制作用,是一株广谱拮抗作用的生防菌株。通过对该菌株进行形态观察、16S rRNA基因序列分析以及生理生化特性检测,鉴定其为枯草芽孢杆菌。对菌株L-14的抗菌机制进行研究,发现该菌发酵液的蛋白粗提物对弯曲平脐蠕孢气生菌丝形态无影响,但可致基内菌丝畸变,对弯曲平脐蠕孢分生孢子萌发有抑制作用。【结论】筛选的拮抗菌在防治植物病害上具有广谱性及较高的拮抗活性,能有效防治玉米叶斑病。     

1株生防细菌的筛选、鉴定及其抑菌特性的初步研究

从鲜牛奶中筛选1株对番茄灰霉病菌具有拮抗作用的菌株A9,经16S rDNA序列分析,鉴定为枯草芽胞杆菌(Bacillus subtilis)。抑菌特性研究表明,该菌株代谢产物会造成番茄灰霉病菌菌丝畸形,同时抑制其孢子生长,使孢子细胞壁破裂;代谢粗提物经过DEAE-52离子交换层析及Sephadex-G50凝胶柱层析后,电泳检测到具有抑菌活性且分子量约为17ku的单一条带,经验证该抑菌物具有蛋白酶活性。     

Chitin-supplemented foliar application of chitinolytic Bacillus cereus reduces severity of Botrytis gray mold disease in chickpea under controlled conditions

AIM: To identify and evaluate chitinolytic bacteria for control of Botrytis gray mold (BGM), a devastating disease in chickpea. METHODS AND REsults: Two antifungal bacterial isolates, chitinolytic Bacillus cereus CRS 7 and nonchitinolytic Pseudomonas fluorescens CRS 31, from the rhizosphere of chickpea, were applied as a prophylactic foliar spray and evaluated for control of BGM. In a controlled environment, the two isolates reduced the severity of BGM on the susceptible cv. JG 62 to 6.0 and 5.6, respectively, compared with 9.0 in the control, measured on a 1-9 rating scale. Supplementation of the foliar application of CRS 7 with 0.5% and 1.0% colloidal chitin reduced BGM severity to 4.4 and 4.1 respectively, while chitin-supplemented application of CRS 31 was similar to CRS 31 applied alone. Partially purified 47-kDa chitinase from the cell-free culture filtrate of CRS 7 at 20 and 40 mug protein ml(-1) (enzyme activity 3.1 units ml(-1)) inhibited the germination and lysed the conidia of Botrytis cinerea, and as a prophylactic foliar spray reduced BGM severity to 5.4 and 4.8, respectively. CONCLUSION: Chitin supplementation improved the biocontrol of the foliar disease BGM by chitinolytic bacterium. Disease control with partially purified chitinase of CRS 7 supported the major role of chitinolysis in improved control of BGM. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Enhanced control of BGM by chitin-supplemented application of CRS 7 is of significant in view of the frequent inconsistency in biocontrol of foliar diseases. This study supports further attempts on chitinolysis-based biocontrol methods for foliar disease biocontrol.