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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #248314
Title: Three Strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens Exhibit Differential Toxicity Against Drosophila melanogaster

Author
item OLCOTT, MARIKA - Oregon State University
item ROSEN, KISE - Oregon State University
item WALKER, FRANCESCA - Oregon State University
item SNEH, BARUCH - Tel Aviv University
item Loper, Joyce
item TAYLOR, BARBARA - Oregon State University

Submitted to: International Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria Workshop
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/15/2009
Publication Date: 5/17/2009
Citation: Olcott, M., Rosen, K., Walker, F., Sneh, B., Loper, J.E., Taylor, B. 2009. Three strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens exhibit differential toxicity against Drosophila melanogaster. International Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria Workshop. p. 71.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Three strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens were tested for toxicity to Drosophila melanogaster in an insect feeding assay. Insect eggs were placed on the surface of a non-nutritive agar plate supplemented with a food source that was non-inoculated or inoculated with P. fluorescens Pf0-1, SBW25, or Pf-5, and insect development and survival were evaluated over time. Strain Pf0-1 had no significant effect on insect survival and development, whereas strain Pf-5 caused dose-dependent lethality and morphological defects in eyes and wings in the surviving adult flies. In addition, Pf-5 caused a dose dependent delay in the onset of metamorphosis relative to non-inoculated controls. A gacA mutant of Pf-5 caused no significant mortality, morphological defects, or developmental delay, indicating that factors responsible for these effects are controlled by the GacS/GacA global regulatory system. Strain SBW25 also caused insect mortality, but to a lower level than caused by Pf-5, and surviving larvae did not exhibit developmental delays. Strain SBW25 ingestion caused some insects to exhibit a profound, fatal systemic melanization reaction at larval, pupal or adult stages. These experiments demonstrate that P. fluorescens Pf-5 and SBW25, when introduced through natural routes of infection, can cause mortality of D. melanogaster. Furthermore, strain Pf-5 causes delays in the onset of metamorphosis and produces morphological defects in surviving adult flies that are independent of host survival.