Abstract
An avirulent strain ofPseudomonas solanacearum, B82, was tested for its ability to protect the potato cultivar, Ontario, from bacterial wilt caused by virulent strains of this bacterium. Strain B82 was not antagonistic to 124 virulent strains ofP. solanacearum and was not bacteriocinogenic. When potato seedpieces were soaked for 5 hr in suspensions of B82 (108 to 109 cfu/ml), reduction in disease severity (up to 50%) was noted in some experiments. The treated plants, grown in the greenhouse or growth room for 4–5 wk, were challenged by stem inoculation, soil drenching, or root-to-root infection with virulent strains (276 or Br5) of the bacterium. Protection was not obtained consistently, however, and much of the variability could be attributed to differences in ambient temperature and light conditions in the greenhouse between experiments. In general, high ambient temperatures and/or reduced sunlight resulted in no protection. Protection appeared to depend on the ability of strain B82 to multiply in the vascular system in the crown region and to colonize the rhizosphere of treated plants. Soil temperatures above 24 C affected the ability of strain B82 to survive in the rhizosphere. The close dependence of protection on environmental conditions suggests that this method of control may not be practical under field conditions.
Compendio
Una cepa no virulenta dePseudomonas solanacearum, B82, se utilizó en pruebas de control biológico del marchitamiento bacteriano de la variedad de papa, Ontario, y que es causado por cepas virulentas de esta misma bacteria. La cepa B82 no es antagónica y no produce bacteriocinas contra 124 cepas virulentas deP. solanacearum. Cuando se sumergieron pedazos de tuberculos por 5 horas en una suspensión de B82 (108 a 109 bacterias/ml), hubo una reducción en la severidad de la enfermedad hasta del 50% en las plantas que crecieron de estos tubérculos en el invernadero o en fitotrones. Las plantas fueron inoculadas después de 4–5 semanas con cepas virulentas (Br5 o 276) ya sea por punción del tallo, aplicación de la bacteria directamente al suelo, o infección por contacto directo de raíz a raíz. Sin embargo, no se obtuvo protección de las plantas en forma consistente, aparentemente debido al efecto pronunciado de diferencias en condiciones ambientales entre un experimento y otro, especialmente las de temperatura y luz. En general, altas temperaturas y luz reducida eliminaron el efecto protector del tratamiento con bacterias. La protectión parece depender de la habilidad de la cepa B82 de multiplicarse en el sistema vascular de la planta y de colonizar la superficie de las raíces de las plantas tratadas. Las temperaturas del suelo arriba de 24°C afectaron la supervivencia de la cepa B82 en la superficie de las raíces. La dependencia estricta de la protección a las condiciones ambientales indica que el tratamiento de tubérculos con la cepa B82 posiblemente no sea práctico como control biológico bajo condiciones de campo.
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This work was supported by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison (Project 1481) and by a grant from the International Potato Center, Lima, Peru.
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McLaughlin, R.J., Sequeira, L. Evaluation of an avirulent strain ofPseudomonas solanacearum for biological control of bacterial wilt of potato. American Potato Journal 65, 255–268 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02854051
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02854051