The influence of mineral and carbon sources on biological control of charcoal rot fungus,Macrophomina phaseolina by fluorescent pseudomonads in tomato

AIMS: To determine the influence of various trace minerals and carbon source on the biocontrol performance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain IE-6S+ and P. fluorescens strain CHA0 against Macrophomina phaseolina. METHODS AND RESULTS: In dual culture plate assay, P. aeruginosa IE-6S+ and P. fluorescens CHA0 inhibited radial growth of M. phaseolina producing zones of inhibition. Czapek's dox agar medium amended with both zinc and glucose remarkably improved antifungal activities of the bacterial inoculants. Under glasshouse conditions, soil amendment with zinc and/or glucose alone did not reduce M. phaseolina infection in tomato roots but did reduce significantly when used in combination with IE-6S+ or CHA0. Soil amendments with zinc and/or glucose increased fresh shoot weights but zinc amendment greatly reduced bacterial populations in the rhizosphere. CONCLUSIONS: Mineral and carbon amendments enhance the biocontrol performance of fluorescent pseudomonads against M. phaseolina. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Identification of mineral and carbon amendments that favour biocontrol of certain bacterial strains may provide clues to soil factors or components of nutrient solutions in hydroponic culture that will improve the level and reliability of control.     

苏云金芽孢杆菌cry1基因在荧光假单胞菌Pfx-18中的表达特性

用DIG标记的cry1Aa基因EcoRI-F片段的RNA探针,对筛选的鳞翅目高毒力菌株的质粒进行Southern分析,将cry基因定位在39．3MD质粒上。该质粒经HindⅢ酶解,用同样探针进行杂交,呈现6．5kb和7．1kb两条阳性带,其中7．1kb片段的杂交强度明显高于6．5kb片段。将7．1kb片段与多寄主质粒pSUP106连接,转化荧光假单胞菌Pfx－18,获得克隆子LZP-1。克隆基因用PCR鉴定,显示典型的cry1Ab谱带。经SDS-PAGE分析,克隆株表达66kD杀虫晶体蛋白和一些小分子多肽。其发酵液稀释1000倍对三龄小菜蛾幼虫的致死率为33％。     

Direct measurement of the adhesive strength of biofilms in pipes by micromanipulation

A novel micromanipulation technique has been developed to measure directly the adhesive strength of biofilms formed in pipe flows. A T-shaped probe was specially designed to pull Pseudomonas fluorescens biofilms away from the inner surface of a pipe to which they were attached. The adhesive strength between biofilms and the substratum was defined as the work required to remove the biofilms per unit area from the substratum. Results showed that the adhesive strength increased with the fluid velocity in which the biofilms were grown, with a typical value of 0.050.2 J/m2. © Rapid Science Ltd. 1998     

Static magnetic field exposure fails to affect the viability of different bacteria strains

The viability of the microbes Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Bacillus circulans, Escherichia coli, Micrococcus luteus, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Salmonella enteritidis, Serratia marcescens, and Staphylococcus aureus was tested under static magnetic field exposure up to 24 h in either a homogeneous (159.2 ± 13.4 mT) or three types of inhomogeneous static magnetic fields: (i) peak‐to‐peak magnetic flux density 476.7 ± 0.1 mT with a lateral magnetic flux density gradient of 47.7 T/m, (ii) 12.0 ± 0.1 mT with 1.2 T/m, or (iii) 2.8 ± 0.1 mT with 0.3 T/m. Even the longest period of exposure failed to produce any effect in the growth of bacteriae that could be correlated with static magnetic field exposure. Bioelectromagnetics 31:220–225, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

A new microbial consortia containing entomopathogenic fungus,Beauveria bassiana and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria,Pseudomonas fluorescens for simultaneous management of leafminers and collar rot disease in groundnut

The virulence of 20 isolates of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin to larvae of the leafminer, Aproaerema modicella, was tested in the laboratory. Leafminer larvae were sprayed with a standard concentration of 1×10⁸ condia/mL of each B. bassiana isolate. All the B. bassiana isolates tested were pathogenic to A. modicella and the mortality varied between 16.7 and 68.9%. Beauveria bassiana isolate B2 was found to be the most virulent followed by isolate B4 which resulted in 59% mortality. Beauveria isolate B2 was selected for dose–response mortality studies with four different doses (1×10², 1×10⁴, 1×10⁶ and 1×10⁸ conidia/mL). Among the various doses tested, 1×10⁸ conidia/mL produced the highest mortality (70.7%). In addition, morphogenesis of the insect pest in all stages, larval, pupal and adult was greatly affected due to fungal infection. Further, B. bassiana isolate B2 and two Pseudomonas fluorescens strains, TDK1 and Pf1 were tested alone and in combination for suppression of groundnut leafminer and collar rot disease and promotion of plant growth and yield both under glasshouse and field conditions. The mixture of B. bassiana and P. fluorescens strains significantly reduced the leafminer and collar rot disease incidences when applied as talc-based formulation through seed, soil and foliar application under glasshouse and field conditions.     

Epiphytic fitness of a biological control agent of fire blight in apple and pear orchards under Mediterranean weather conditions

The behaviour of Pseudomonas fluorescens EPS62e was investigated in apple and pear orchards under Mediterranean climatic conditions. The trials studied the influence of weather conditions, plant host species, presence of indigenous microbial community and spread from treated to nontreated trees on colonization and survival. Population dynamics were assessed by real-time PCR and CFU-counting methods. With inoculated flowers, weather conditions were optimal for colonization, and EPS62e established high and stable population levels around 10(8) CFU per organ, according to both methods of analysis. The plant host species did not influence the colonization rate, and the biocontrol agent dominated the microbial communities of blossoms, representing up to 100% of the total cultivable population. With inoculated leaves, the EPS62e population decreased to nondetectable levels 30 days after treatment according to both methods used. EPS62e spread moderately in the orchard, being detected in nontreated flowers of trees 15-35 m from the inoculation site. The combined use of real-time PCR and CFU-counting methods of analysis permitted the identification of three physiological states for EPS62e in the field, which consisted of active colonization, survival and entry into a viable but nonculturable state, and cell death.     

Genetic variability in nodulation and root growth affects nitrogen fixation and accumulation in pea

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Legume nitrogen is derived from two different sources, symbiotically fixed atmospheric N(2) and soil N. The effect of genetic variability of root and nodule establishment on N acquisition and seed protein yield was investigated under field conditions in pea (Pisum sativum). In addition, these parameters were related to the variability in preference for rhizobial genotypes. METHODS: Five different spring pea lines (two hypernodulating mutants and three cultivars), previously identified in artificial conditions as contrasted for both root and nodule development, were characterized under field conditions. Root and nodule establishment was examined from the four-leaf stage up to the beginning of seed filling and was related to the patterns of shoot dry matter and nitrogen accumulation. The genetic structure of rhizobial populations associated with the pea lines was obtained by analysis of nodule samples. The fraction of nitrogen derived from symbiotic fixation was estimated at the beginning of seed filling and at physiological maturity, when seed protein content and yield were determined. KEY RESULTS: The hypernodulating mutants established nodules earlier and maintained them longer than was the case for the three cultivars, whereas their root development and nitrogen accumulation were lower. The seed protein yield was higher in 'Athos' and 'Austin', the two cultivars with increased root development, consistent with their higher N absorption during seed filling. CONCLUSION: The hypernodulating mutants did not accumulate more nitrogen, probably due to the C cost for nodulation being higher than for root development. Enhancing exogenous nitrogen supply at the end of the growth cycle, by increasing the potential for root N uptake from soil, seems a good option for improving pea seed filling.     

荧光假单胞菌香兰素脱氢酶基因功能的验证

验证了荧光假单胞菌(Pseudomonas fluorescensATCC13525)香兰素脱氢酶基因(vanillin dehydrogenasegene,vdh)的功能。基因vdh表达产物(Vdh)的活性测定结果显示Vdh具有很高的活性,而且不经IPTG诱导的Vdh也具有同样高的活性。经过4 h的体外酶促反应,重组蛋白Vdh能把95%以上的香兰素转化为香兰素酸,从而验证了vdh基因的表达产物具有香兰素脱氢酶的功能。同时发现NAD 是从香兰素到香兰素酸体外转化必不可少的因素。     

Enhancement of algicidal activity by immobilization of algicidal bacteria antagonistic to Stephanodiscus hantzschii (Bacillariophyceae)

AIMS: Enhancement of algicidal activity by immobilization of algicidal bacteria antagonistic to Stephanodiscus hantzschii. METHODS AND RESULTS: In laboratory studies, A diatom-lysing bacterium, Pseudomonas fluorescens HYK0210-SK09 showed strong algicidal activity against S. hantzschii, but a natural mesocosm study revealed that this bacterium failed to fully control natural blooms of Stephanodiscus at the low water temperatures that favour these blooms. Here, we sought to develop an effective immobilization strategy for enhancing the algicidal activity of HYK0210-SK09 in the natural setting. Bacterium HYK0210-SK09 was immobilized with various carriers including agar, alginate, polyurethane and cellulose sponge. The bacterial cells immobilized with cellulose sponge (CIS) induced more rapid and complete lysis of S. hantzschii than other carriers, and had a higher packing ability than polyurethane. Furthermore, CIS-immobilized cells showed higher lysis of S. hantzschii at the same concentrations as that of free cells (< or =1 x 10(7) cells ml(-1)), and had especially strong algicidal activity at the low temperatures (<10 degrees C). Based on these laboratory studies, we assessed the possible application of HYK0210-SK09 cells in the field by performing a mesocosm study during the winter season. The CIS-immobilized cells with species-specific activity towards the genera Stephanodiscus showed extremely high algicidal activity (up to 95%) against a bloom of Stephanodiscus hantzschii even at low water temperatures, because of high cell packing and subsequent cell protection against low temperatures and predators, whereas free cells showed negligible algicidal activities under these conditions. CONCLUSION: Immobilizing cells of HYK0210-SK09 in CIS foam, rather than in the other matrices tested, could achieve more efficient control of Stephanodiscus blooms and showed a significant algicidal activity on in vitro and in vivo blooms, even at low water temperature. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Collectively, these results indicate that CIS of algicidal bacteria may form an important strategy for effective management of Stephanodiscus blooms at low water temperatures.     

荧光假单胞菌短链脱氢酶的克隆、表达及酶学性质分析

为了研究荧光假单胞菌中短链脱氢酶的生理角色和催化特性,从荧光假单胞菌Pseudomonas fluorescens GIM1.49基因组DNA克隆表达了一个短链脱氢酶的编码基因pfd,并分析了该基因产物的酶学性质。基因pfd全长684 bp,编码227个氨基酸,推算分子量为24.2 kDa。将携带短链脱氢酶基因的重组质粒pET28b-pfd转入大肠杆菌BL21(DE3) 进行表达,得到了28 kDa的表达产物。重组荧光假单胞菌短链脱氢酶 (PFD) 能氧化4-氯-3-羟基丁酸乙酯、1-苯乙醇、苯甲醇、仲丁醇和还原4-氯-乙酰乙酸乙酯、2-溴-苯乙酮、4-溴-苯乙酮等底物。以4-氯-3-羟基丁酸乙酯为底物时活力最高,Km值为186.90 mmol/L,Vmax为89.56 U/mg。氧化4-氯-3-羟基丁酸乙酯时,最适反应温度和pH分别为12 ℃和10.5,倾向于利用NAD+作辅酶;而还原4-氯-乙酰乙酸乙酯时,最适温度和pH为24 ℃和8.8,倾向于利用NADPH作辅酶。重组PFD能耐受50％ (V/V) 的甲醇等有机助溶剂,Ca2+ (1 mmol/L) 和EDTA (5 mmol/L) 对其酶活有一定的促进作用。上述结果表明,重组PFD是一个新型的短链脱氢酶,其代谢角色推测与卤代次级醇的氧化降解有关。