Rhizobacterially induced protection of watermelon against Didymella bryoniae

Nguyen Thi Thu Nga, N.T. Giau, N.T. Long, Mette Lübeck, Nandini Prasad Shetty, Eigil de Neergaard, Tran Thi Thu Thuy, P.V. Kim, Hans Jørgen Lyngs Jørgensen

    13 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Aims: To identify rhizobacteria from the Mekong Delta of Vietnam, which can systemically protect watermelon against Didymella bryoniae and elucidate the mechanisms involved in the protection conferred by isolate Pseudomonas aeruginosa 231-1. Methods and Results: Bacteria were isolated from watermelon roots and their antagonistic ability tested in vitro. Of 190 strains, 68 were able to inhibit D. bryoniae by production of antibiotics. Four strains were able to reduce foliar infection by D. bryoniae when applied to watermelon seeds before sowing. Strain Ps. aeruginosa 231-1 was chosen for investigations of the mechanisms involved in protection and ability to control disease under field conditions. In the field, the bacterium was able to significantly reduce disease in two consecutive seasons and increase yield. Furthermore, it colonized watermelon plants endophytically, with higher numbers in plants infected by D. bryoniae than in noninoculated plants. To elucidate the mechanisms involved in protection, the infection biology of the pathogen was studied in bacterially treated and control plants. Pseudomonas aeruginosa 231-1 treatment inhibited pathogen penetration and this was associated with hydrogen peroxide accumulation, increased peroxidase activity and occurrence of new peroxidase isoforms, thus indicating that resistance was induced. Conclusions: The endophytic bacterium Ps. aeruginosa 231-1 can control D. bryoniae in watermelon by antibiosis and induced resistance under greenhouse and field conditions. Significance and Impact of the Study: These findings suggest that rhizobacteria from native soils in Vietnam can be used to control gummy stem blight of watermelon through various mechanisms including induction of resistance.

    Original languageEnglish
    JournalJournal of Applied Microbiology
    Volume109
    Issue number2
    Pages (from-to)567-582
    Number of pages16
    ISSN1364-5072
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Aug 2010

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