花魔芋软腐病原真菌分离鉴定

魔芋软腐病是魔芋生产过程中的重要病害,也是限制魔芋产业发展的主要因素。目前,已有报道魔芋软腐病主要由细菌引起,鲜有真菌引起魔芋球茎软腐发病的报道。为明确云南曲靖市花魔芋(Amorphophallus konjac)软腐病的病原种类和侵染特征,该研究通过组织分离法,对采集自云南曲靖市的花魔芋病样进行了真菌的分离,通过形态学结合基于ITS与LSU序列分析的分子鉴定方法对分离真菌进行鉴定,并根据柯赫氏法则进行致病性测定,并对鉴定出的病原真菌同魔芋软腐病原细菌进行了双回接试验分析。结果表明:(1)从形态学和分子水平鉴定了轮纹镰刀菌(Fusarium concentricum)、尖孢镰刀菌(F. oxysporum)和F. ambrosium 3种镰刀菌,1种毛霉属真菌(Mucor sp.),1种根霉属真菌(Rhizopus sp.),1种青霉属真菌(Penicillium sp.)和1种粉红螺旋聚孢霉属真菌(Clonostachys sp.)。(2)统计分析发现,轮纹镰刀菌的相对丰度最高,为45.45%。(3)柯赫氏法则检测发现轮纹镰刀菌具有致病性。(4)轮纹镰刀菌和病原细菌胡萝卜果胶杆菌(Pectobacterium aroidearum)双接种魔芋球茎发现软腐病发病更快,病变组织重量显著高于单接种轮纹镰刀菌或果胶杆菌处理。综上表明,魔芋软腐病可能是由真菌和细菌复合侵染引发。该研究结果为魔芋软腐病的防治提供了理论依据。     

海南豇豆枯萎病病原鉴定及生物学特性初步研究

从海南乐东豇豆地采集到的枯萎病病样,经形态学观察、致病性测定和真菌ITS序列分析,将其病原鉴定为尖孢镰刀菌菜豆专化型(Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.phaseolus)。生物学特性分析表明:该病原菌菌丝生长适宜温度为20~30℃,最适温度为25℃,50℃时不能生长;适宜p H为6~10,最适p H值为8.0;全黑暗和全光照有利于菌丝的生长;可利用多种碳、氮源,最适碳源为果糖和D-甘露醇,氮源为蛋白胨和硝酸钠。     

几种野生植物提取物抑菌作用研究

本文以乙醇为溶剂,分别提取了瓦松、泽漆及一组中草药配方的有效成分;室内测定了三种提取液对5种植物病原菌(棉花枯萎病菌Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.vasinfectum;小麦赤霉病菌Fusarium graminearum Schw;西瓜枯萎病菌Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.niveum;仙人掌软腐病菌Erwinia chrysanthemi pv.chrysanthemi;魔芋软腐病菌Erwiniacarotovora pv.carotovora)的抑菌作用.结果表明:三种提取物对镰刀菌均有不同程度的抑制作用,且三种提取物的抑菌效果差异显著,其中瓦松的抑菌效果最强.当在50 mL培养基中加入5mL不同提取液时,瓦松对不同镰刀菌的相对抑制率为91.39%～100%;中草药配方提取液对不同镰刀菌的相对抑制率分别为41.11%～85.37%;而泽漆提取液对镰刀菌的相对抑制率仅为12.86%～21.23%;当在50 mL培养基中加入提取液体积降低为2 mL、1 mL、0.5mL时,三种提取液对三种镰刀菌的抑制效果骤然下降,但下降的梯度不一.对大白菜软腐病菌与魔芋软腐病菌而言也是瓦松的抑菌效果最强,中草药配方次之,泽漆的抑制效果最差.     

新疆石河子地区甜樱桃采后腐烂致病真菌的分离鉴定

【背景】甜樱桃果实柔软多汁,采后腐烂率高。石河子是新疆新兴的甜樱桃种植地区之一,但由于采后储运不当造成巨大的经济损失。【目的】鉴定石河子地区的甜樱桃果实腐烂病原菌,以期提高该地区甜樱桃的采后品质、延长货架期。【方法】从石河子136团种植的甜樱桃腐坏组织中分离真菌菌株,根据柯赫氏法则将分离得到的菌株重新接种到健康的甜樱桃果实上确定其致病性;结合形态学和真菌核糖体转录间隔区(r DNA-ITS)序列分析对致病真菌进行鉴定。【结果】从石河子地区甜樱桃腐烂的果肉中分离出5类丝状真菌,其中3类是甜樱桃果实的致病真菌,转录间隔区序列比对确定3类真菌中代表菌株分别为易脆毛霉(Mucorfragilis)、镰刀菌(Fusariumsp.)和干酪青霉(Penicillium camemberti)。【结论】导致新疆石河子地区甜樱桃果实腐烂的致病真菌主要有易脆毛霉(Mucor fragilis)、镰刀菌(Fusarium sp.)和干酪青霉(Penicillium camemberti)。     

贵州半夏块茎腐烂病病原菌的分离与鉴定

【目的】对贵州省半夏块茎腐烂病病原菌进行分离和鉴定,为开发有效的防治技术体系提供依据。【方法】采用组织分离法进行病原菌分离,根据柯氏法则进行致病性测定,结合形态学、生理生化特性和分子生物学方法进行鉴定。【结果】从贵州3个半夏产地患病样品中分离出12株病原细菌和5株病原真菌。经形态学、生理生化特性和分子生物学方法鉴定,12株病原细菌为胡萝卜软腐果胶杆菌胡萝卜软腐亚种;ZJ、Z3病原真菌为尖孢镰刀菌,D3、D5、H1为茄病镰刀菌。【结论】贵州省半夏块茎腐烂病的病原菌有病原细菌和病原真菌。     

生防菌根系定殖竞争作用对西瓜枯萎病发病机理的影响

【目的】西瓜枯萎病是由西瓜专化型尖孢镰刀菌(Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.niveum)引起的一种常见的毁灭性土传病害,对镰刀菌同属非致病性菌株与致病性菌株存在的竞争作用进行研究,有助于获得新的具有生防效果的菌株,从而拓宽西瓜枯萎病生物防治的手段。【方法】利用选择性培养基和稀释平板计数法对温室盆栽试验中西瓜根际和非根际土壤及植物组织中非致病性轮枝镰刀菌菌株(Fusarium verticillioides XA)与致病性尖孢镰刀菌(Fusarium oxysporum LD)进行计数,确定其在西瓜植株根际和组织中的定殖情况。【结果】将从田间西瓜枯萎病发病植株根部分离获得的菌株XA和LD接入健康土壤中,接种菌株XA既不会引起西瓜枯萎病发病症状,也不会影响西瓜植株生物量,但接种菌株LD导致严重发病症状。与单接种LD处理相比较,双接种(XA+LD)处理地上部鲜重和地上部干重都分别增加了151.2%和110%。XA菌株能成功定殖于西瓜根系,但在茎基部没有检测到。在接种菌株LD的处理中植物组织和土壤中致病性镰刀菌的数量达到(1.58 4.85)×104CFU/g。与单接种LD处理相比,双接种菌株XA和LD处理植物茎基部、根系、根际土壤和土体土壤致病性镰刀菌的数量分别下降63.3%、66.1%、3.3%和24.4%,根系、根际土壤和土体土壤非致病性镰刀菌的数量增加到(0.35 3.84)×104CFU/g;双接种处理对西瓜枯萎病的防效达57.8%。【结论】非致病性轮枝镰刀菌菌株XA可有效降低致病性尖孢镰刀菌LD对西瓜植株的定殖侵染能力,对西瓜枯萎病具有一定的生防效果。     

黄柏果实提取物对植物病原真菌的抑制作用

在室内测定了芸香科植物黄柏(Phellodendron chinese Schneid.)果实乙醇粗提物及其4个不同极性溶剂的萃取部分在浓度为1 mg/mL时对小麦纹枯病菌(Rhizoctonia cerealis)、稻纹枯病菌(Rhizoctonia solani)、番茄镰刀菌萎焉病菌(Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.lycopersici)、黄瓜枯萎病菌(Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.cucumerinum)、棉花枯萎病菌(Fusarium vasinfectum)、棉花黄萎病菌(Verticillium dahliae)、小麦赤霉病菌(Fusarium graminearum)、玉米小斑病菌(Bipolaris maydis)、西瓜枯萎病菌(Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.niverum)、梨黑星病菌(Venturia piri-na)、稻瘟病菌(Magnaporthe grisea)等11种植物病原真菌的抑制作用.乙酸乙酯部分和正丁醇部分对植物病原菌均表现出较强的抑制活性,其中乙酸乙酯部分对两种丝核菌小麦纹枯病菌和稻纹枯病菌的生长抑制作用最强,抑制率分别为100.00%和89.36%;正丁醇部分对两者的抑制率分别为97.32%和61.32%.实验结果表明,黄柏果实中的抗真菌活性成分主要存在于乙醇粗提物中的乙酸乙酯和正丁醇萃取部分中.     

北京大兴区甘薯根腐病原菌的分离及分子鉴定

针对北京市大兴区大肆爆发的甘薯根腐病病害,为确定造成该病害的优势真菌类型,开展了病害真菌的现状调查和快速检测鉴定工作。从患病甘薯根部分离真菌,通过真菌ITS区PCR扩增及系统发生关系等对病原菌的分子生物学鉴定和类群组成特点进行了分析。结果分离到两株病原真菌,分子鉴定结果表明这两株真菌均是尖孢镰刀菌(Fusarium oxysporum)。研究结果为甘薯根腐病病原菌的快速鉴定提供了依据,以期对甘薯根腐病的防治决策提供一定的参考。     

云南金铁锁根腐病病原菌的分离及鉴定

金铁锁(Psammosilene tunicoides)是西南地区重要的民族民间药物、云南白药等中成药的主要原料药。为分离并鉴定云南金铁锁根腐病病原菌,该研究采用微生物纯培养方法,分离纯化金铁锁根腐病植株根部的病健交接处组织,获得金铁锁根腐病病原微生物。按照Koch''s法则验证分离得到的病原菌的致病性。结合形态学观察、真菌rDNA-ITS和TEF-1α序列分析以及系统发育树的构建鉴定获得的病原菌的种类。结果表明:(1)从金铁锁根腐病植株组织中分离纯化得到85株真菌,其中PSD-1、PSD-2、PSD-3菌株均能引起金铁锁的根腐病。(2)金铁锁健康植株接种PSD-1、PSD-2、PSD-3菌株后,产生与大田植株根腐病相似的症状,并且发病率分别为60%、61.7%、71.7%。(3)结合形态学观察及基因序列分析,鉴定该三株菌株均为尖孢镰刀菌(Fusarium oxysporum)。该文首次报道了尖孢镰刀菌是引起金铁锁根腐病的主要病原菌之一,为深入探究具有根腐病生物防治功能的内生菌群及其作用机制奠定了基础,也为后续金铁锁病害的防治工作提供了理论依据。     

青海豌豆根腐病病原菌种类及致病性的研究

豌豆极腐病是青海东部干旱地区豌豆生产上的一种新病害,近年来危害逐年加重,致使豌豆产量遭受严重损失。根据分离鉴定和致病性测定结果,青海豌豆根腐病病原真菌是由茄镰刀菌、尖孢镰刀菌、豌豆丝囊霉、根串珠霉、立枯丝核菌、腐霉、链孢粘帚霉等复合反染所引起的。经回接试验：镰刀菌和豌豆丝囊霉对豌豆具有较强的致病力;腐霉及其他病原菌则有加强腐烂作用。     

甘肃大葱贮藏期镰孢菌腐烂病病原鉴定

【目的】大葱在贮藏期频繁发生镰孢菌腐烂病,损失严重。明确该病害病原种类对病害防治具有重要意义。【方法】利用组织分离法对采集自甘肃省兰州市(区)蔬菜市场的16份大葱贮藏期镰孢菌腐烂病病样进行病原物的分离、纯化培养,经单孢分离后根据形态学特征,再结合r DNA-ITS、EF-1a(tef)基因序列分析的方法进行鉴定。【结果】共分离得到80株镰孢菌,经鉴定分属3个种,即层出镰孢菌(Fusarium proliferatum)、尖孢镰孢菌(F.oxysporum)和燕麦镰孢菌(F.avenaceum),其中层出镰孢菌为大葱镰孢菌腐烂病的优势致病菌,分离频率为52.50%。对兰州白葱不同部位进行致病性测定,结果表明层出镰孢菌对大葱鳞茎的致病力最强,而燕麦镰孢菌对大葱鳞茎的致病力最弱。【结论】3种镰孢菌作为该病害的病原,属国内首次报道。     

First morphogenetic identification of <i>Fusarium solani</i> isolated from orange fruit in Egypt

Losses due to postharvest decay may occur at any time during postharvest handling, from harvest to consumption affecting the produce quality and quantity. Accurate identification of the pathogen causing postharvest disease is essential to the selection of an appropriate disease control approach. Nine isolates of Fusarium recovered from orange fruit were identified as Fusarium solani. The fungus is involved with fruit decay. The obtained cultures were purified and grown on potato-dextrose agar (PDA), malt yeast agar (MYA), and Czapek's nutrient media (CNM) under light for identification. A pathogenicity test was carried out to fulfil Koch's postulates. The pathogen could only enter ripe orange fruit through wounds and cracks causing the rot disease. The identification of the fungal isolates was confirmed to be F. solani by DNA sequencing, which was 99 to 100% homologous to those deposited in the Gen- Bank. The identity of nine fungal isolates was confirmed to be F. solani by DNA sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA region (GenBank Accession Nos. DQ486874 to DQ486881 and KC758879). To our knowledge, this is the first morphogenetic identification of F. solani isolated from orange fruit in Egypt.     

Changing fitness of a necrotrophic plant pathogen under increasing temperature

Warmer temperatures associated with climate change are expected to have a direct impact on plant pathogens, challenging crops and altering plant disease profiles in the future. In this study, we have investigated the effect of increasing temperature on the pathogenic fitness of Fusarium pseudograminearum, an important necrotrophic plant pathogen associated with crown rot disease of wheat in Australia. Eleven wheat lines with different levels of crown rot resistance were artificially inoculated with F. pseudograminearum and maintained at four diurnal temperatures 15/15°C, 20/15°C, 25/15°C and 28/15°C in a controlled glasshouse. To quantify the success of F. pseudograminearum three fitness measures, these being disease severity, pathogen biomass in stem base and flag leaf node, and deoxynivalenol (DON) in stem base and flag leaf node of mature plants were used. F. pseudograminearum showed superior overall fitness at 15/15°C, and this was reduced with increasing temperature. Pathogen fitness was significantly influenced by the level of crown rot resistance of wheat lines, but the influence of line declined with increasing temperature. Lines that exhibited superior crown rot resistance in the field were generally associated with reduced overall pathogen fitness. However, the relative performance of the wheat lines was dependent on the measure of pathogen fitness, and lines that were associated with one reduced measure of pathogen fitness did not always reduce another. There was a strong correlation between DON in stem base tissue and disease severity, but length of browning was not a good predictor of Fusarium biomass in the stem base. We report that a combination of host resistance and rising temperature will reduce pathogen fitness under increasing temperature, but further studies combining the effect of rising CO₂ are essential for more realistic assessments.     

Characterization of emerging populations of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. conglutinans causing cabbage wilt in China

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. conglutinans (FOC) causes Fusarium wilt, a disease of cabbage that has brought about significant economic loss throughout northern China since it was first detected in 2001. To characterize the Chinese FOC isolates, we compared the cultural characteristics, pathogenicity and races between the Chinese isolates and the type strains (race 1: 52,557 and race 2: 58,385). The Chinese FGL‐03‐6 isolate had cultural characteristics similar to those of strain 52,557, including colony growth rate, colony and spore characteristics and responses to temperature changes, while the strain 58,385 grew faster, produced more pigment and spores and was more adaptable to temperature fluctuations. The lethal temperature for all strains was 60°C, and the optimal temperatures for pathogen growth on potato dextrose agar and pathogenicity on plants were 25°C and 25 to 30°C, respectively. Tests for race and pathogenicity indicated that different cabbage cultivars had similar resistance reactions to FGL‐03‐6 and 52,557. However, the pathogenicity of FGL‐03‐6 was similar to that of 58,385, which infected quickly and caused more severe disease symptoms. This study further provides information regarding characterizing different strains of F. oxysporum f. sp. conglutinans.     

长期连作对大豆根际土壤镰孢菌种群的影响

利用中国科学院海伦农业生态试验站大豆连作长期定位试验区,进行了大豆根际土壤镰孢菌分离鉴定及大豆根腐病致病力检测,结合核酸序列和限制性片段长度多态性(RFLP)的系统发育分析,研究了长期连作(20年)较短期连作(3年)对大豆根际土壤镰孢菌种群密度和结构、致病力及遗传多样性的影响.结果表明： 3年连作大豆根际土壤镰孢菌种群密度为6.0×10⁴ CFU·g^-1,且以强致病力的尖镰孢菌、禾谷镰孢菌、轮枝镰孢菌及中等致病力的腐皮镰孢菌为优势种;连作20年大豆根际土壤镰孢菌种群密度和优势菌的优势度均显著低于3年连作,其中尖镰孢菌、禾谷镰孢菌和腐皮镰孢菌的种群密度仅为3年连作的36%、32%和22%,没有分离到致病力最高的轮枝镰孢菌,而种群多样性和均匀度显著高于3年连作;仅分离自20年连作土壤的三线镰孢菌、砖红镰孢菌及燕麦镰孢菌均为非致病菌种,且与强致病力镰孢菌种在基于转录间隔区(ITS)和转录延长因子(EF-1α)序列的聚类分析中显示了系统进化亲缘关系的差异性.因此,大豆20年连作会导致根际土壤镰孢菌种群生长受抑制、使其种群结构和遗传多样性发生改变,同时降低大豆根腐病菌种群致病力.     

Fusarium foetens, a new species pathogenic to begonia elatior hybrids (Begonia x hiemalis) and the sister taxon of the Fusarium oxysporum species complex

A new disease recently was discovered in begonia elatior hybrid (Begonia × hiemalis) nurseries in The Netherlands. Diseased plants showed a combination of basal rot, vein yellowing and wilting and the base of collapsing plants was covered by unusually large masses of Fusarium macroconidia. A species of Fusarium was isolated consistently from the discolored veins of leaves and stems. It differed morphologically from F. begoniae, a known agent of begonia flower, leaf and stem blight. The Fusarium species resembled members of the F. oxysporum species complex in producing short monophialides on the aerial mycelium and abundant chlamydospores. Other phenotypic characters such as polyphialides formed occasionally in at least some strains, relatively long monophialides intermingled with the short monophialides formed on the aerial mycelium, distinct sporodochial conidiomata, and distinct pungent colony odor distinguished it from the F. oxysporum species complex. Phylogenetic analyses of partial sequences of the mitochondrial small subunit of the ribosomal DNA (mtSSU rDNA), nuclear translation elongation factor 1α (EF-1α) and β-tubulin gene exons and introns indicate that the Fusarium species represents a sister group of the F. oxysporum species complex. Begonia × hiemalis cultivars Bazan, Bellona and Netja Dark proved to be highly susceptible to the new species. Inoculated plants developed tracheomycosis within 4 wk, and most died within 8 wk. The new taxon was not pathogenic to Euphorbia pulcherrima, Impatiens walleriana and Saintpaulia ionantha that commonly are grown in nurseries along with B. × hiemalis. Inoculated plants of Cyclamen persicum did not develop the disease but had discolored vessels from which the inoculated fungus was isolated. Given that the newly discovered begonia pathogen is distinct in pathogenicity, morphology and phylogeny from other fusaria, it is described here as a new species, Fusarium foetens.     

First report of molecular characterisation of Fusarium proliferatum associated with root rot disease of Indian mulberry (Morinda officinalis How.) in Viet Nam

Root rot is the most serious disease affecting Indian mulberry in Viet Nam. The objective of the present study was to confirm the identities and pathogenicity of species of Fusarium isolated from the roots of Indian mulberry. Based on pathogenicity assays, F. proliferatum was shown to be the pathogenic agent. The identity of F. proliferatum was confirmed by PCR and phylogenetic analyses based on the sequences of the ITS region and the TEF1-α gene. Of four semi-solid media (CA, PDA, CDA and YMA) tested, PDA was the most suitable medium for the growth of F. proliferatum. The optimal temperature range for the growth of F. proliferatum was 20–30?°C with a maximum at growth rate at 25?°C. The optimum pH for growth ranged from pH5.0–6.0 with maximum growth at 5.5. This is the first report of F. proliferatum causing root rot of Indian mulberry in Viet Nam.     

Phylogeny and pathogenicity of Fusarium oxysporum isolates from cottonseed imported from Australia into California for dairy cattle feed

A unique biotype of the Fusarium wilt pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht. f.sp. vasinfectum (Atk) Sny. & Hans., found in Australia in 1993 is favored by neutral or alkaline heavy soils and does not require plant parasitic nematodes to cause disease. This makes it a threat to 4-6 million acres of USA Upland cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) that is grown on heavy alkaline soil and currently is not affected by Fusarium wilt. In 2001-2002, several shiploads of live cottonseed were imported into California for dairy cattle feed. Thirteen F. oxysporum f.sp. vasinfectum isolates and four isolates of a Fusarium spp. that resembled F. oxysporum were isolated from the imported cottonseed. The isolates, designated by an AuSeed prefix, formed four vegetative compatibility groups (VCG) all of which were incompatible with tester isolates for 18 VCGs found in the USA. Isolate AuSeed14 was vegetatively compatible with the four reference isolates of Australian biotype VCG01111. Phylogenetic analyses based on EF-1α, PHO, BT, Mat1-1, and Mat1-2 gene sequences separated the 17 seed isolates into three lineages (race A, race 3, and Fusarium spp.) with AuSeed14 clustering into race 3 lineage or race A lineage depending on the genes analyzed. Indel analysis of the EF-1α gene sequences revealed a close evolutionary relationship among AuSeed14, Australian biotype reference isolates, and the four Fusarium spp. isolates. The Australian seed isolates and the four Australian biotype reference isolates caused disease with root-dip inoculation, but not with stem-puncture inoculation. Thus, they were a vascular incompetent pathotype. In contrast, USA race A lineage isolates readily colonized vascular tissue and formed a vascular competent pathotype when introduced directly into xylem vessels. The AuSeed14 isolate was as pathogenic as the Australian biotype, and it or related isolates could cause a severe Fusarium wilt problem in USA cotton fields if they become established.     

Effects of delaying fungicide treatment of wounded potatoes on the incidence of Fusarium dry rot in store

Potato tubers artificially inoculated with Fusarium solani var. coeruleum or F. sulphureum 3 months after harvest were uniformly wounded and held at 5, 10 or 15°C for up to 21 days before immersion in fungicide suspensions. Holding tubers for 14 days at 15°C (curing conditions) or at 5°C did not alter the incidence of dry rot subsequently developing on tubers stored at 10°C, and holding tubers for up to 21 days at 15°C slightly increased disease caused by both pathogens. Thiabendazole, imazalil and prochloraz applied to tubers immediately after wounding almost completely prevented dry rot. Treatment after 3 days was less effective and the amount of disease increased with further delay; fungicides were more effective on tubers held at 5°C than at 10 or 15°C before treatment and storage, and efficacy of the fungicide was decreased by increasing the amount of inoculum on tubers. Wounds became less susceptible to infection by F. solani var. coeruleum and F. sulphureum when tubers were held at 15°C before inoculation, and the incidence of rots was decreased by 70–80% by delaying inoculation for 7 days. Treating tubers with dichlorophen immediately after wounding slightly increased the disease. The effects of fungicide treatment, curing conditions and wound healing are discussed.     

Composts containing fluorescent pseudomonads suppress fusarium root and stem rot development on greenhouse cucumber

Three composts (Ball, dairy, and greenhouse) were tested for the ability to suppress the development of Fusarium root and stem rot (caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-cucumerinum) on greenhouse cucumber. Dairy and greenhouse composts significantly reduced disease severity (P = 0.05), while Ball compost had no effect. Assessment of total culturable microbes in the composts showed a positive relationship between disease suppressive ability and total population levels of pseudomonads. In vitro antagonism assays between compost-isolated bacterial strains and the pathogen showed that strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exhibited the greatest antagonism. In growth room trials, strains of P. aeruginosa and nonantagonistic Pseudomonas maculicola, plus 2 biocontrol strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens, were tested for their ability to reduce (i) survival of F. oxysporum, (ii) colonization of plants by the pathogen, and (iii) disease severity. Cucumber seedlings grown in compost receiving P. aeruginosa and P. fluorescens had reduced disease severity index scores after 8 weeks compared with control plants without bacteria. Internal stem colonization by F. oxysporum was significantly reduced by P. aeruginosa. The bacteria colonized plant roots at 1.9 × 10(6) ± 0.73 × 10(6) CFU·(g root tissue)-1 and survival was >107 CFU·(g compost)-1 after 6 weeks. The locus for 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol production was detected by Southern blot analysis and confirmed by PCR. The production of the antibiotic 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol in liquid culture by P. aeruginosa was confirmed by thin layer chromatography. These results demonstrate that composts containing antibiotic-producing P. aeruginosa have the potential to suppress diseases caused by Fusarium species.