Characterizing potential bacterial biocontrol agents for suppression of Rhizobium vitis, causal agent of crown gall disease in grapevines

Several bacteria were evaluated in greenhouse studies for their effectiveness at preventing formation of galls induced by Rhizobium vitis, the Gram negative bacterium that causes crown gall disease of grapevines. Three endophytic bacteria isolated from Malus domestica yielded promising results and w...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Crop protection 2006-11, Vol.25 (11), p.1191-1200
Main Authors: Eastwell, Kenneth C., Sholberg, Peter L., Sayler, Ronald J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agrobacterium vitis
antifungal properties
Bacillus
Bacillus subtilis
bacteria
Biocontrol
biological control agents
Crown gall
crown galls
disease control
Endophytic bacteria
fungal diseases of plants
grapes
Malus domestica
Nicotiana glauca
plant pathogenic fungi
Pseudomonas fluorescens
Rhizobium
Rhizobium vitis
Vitaceae
Vitis
Vitis vinifera
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Summary:Several bacteria were evaluated in greenhouse studies for their effectiveness at preventing formation of galls induced by Rhizobium vitis, the Gram negative bacterium that causes crown gall disease of grapevines. Three endophytic bacteria isolated from Malus domestica yielded promising results and were selected for further examination: Pseudomonas fluorescens isolate 1100-6, Bacillus subtilis isolate EN63-1, and Bacillus species isolate EN71-1. In planta experiments were initially performed on Nicotiana glauca to facilitate measurement of gall development. The effect of the interval between inoculation of N. glauca with the biocontrol agent and exposure to R. vitis was evaluated. All three bacteria significantly reduced gall size when applied 25 or 86 days before inoculation with R. vitis, and reduced the population of R. vitis relative to control plants . P. fluorescens ‘1100-6’ also reduced the percentage of R. vitis inoculations that yielded galls. P. fluorescens ‘1100-6’ was genetically tagged to allow exploration of its localization in grapevines. In growth chamber studies, P. fluorescens ‘1100-6’ was found to survive in the rhizoplane of grapevines for 6 months. Microscopic examination showed that the genetically modified P. fluorescens ‘1100-6’ predominantly occupied xylem and pith tissues, and occasionally persisted on external surfaces of grapevines.
ISSN:0261-2194
1873-6904
DOI:10.1016/j.cropro.2006.03.004