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Title: DAPG-producing Pseudomonas fluorescens: beneficial agents for suppression of plant-parasitic nematodes?

Author
item Meyer, Susan

Submitted to: European Society of Nematologists
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/14/2010
Publication Date: 9/19/2010
Citation: Meyer, S.L.F. 2010. DAPG-producing Pseudomonas fluorescens: beneficial agents for suppression of plant-parasitic nematodes? In: Proceedings of the 30th International Symposium of the European Society of Nematologists, September 19-23, 2010, Vienna, Austria. p. 82.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Some beneficial strains of the bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens produce the antibiotic 2, 4-diacetylphloroglucinol (DAPG). DAPG is active against a number of organisms, including viruses, bacteria, fungi and plants, and DAPG-producing P. fluorescens can also induce plant resistance against pathogens. Production of DAPG has been associated with enhanced activity against plant pathogens, and application of DAPG-producing bacteria can increase crop yields. Some studies with plant-parasitic nematodes have demonstrated that DAPG-producing strains of P. fluorescens can cause death of J2 and egg hatch inhibition, but suppression of nematode populations on plant roots has been variable. To aid in determining the role of DAPG in suppression of nematode populations, synthetic DAPG was tested for nematotoxic activity against four taxa of plant-parasitic (target) and three taxa of bacterial-feeding (nontarget) nematodes. DAPG demonstrated toxicity to two of the plant parasites, but did not affect viability of the tested species of beneficial bacterial-feeding nematodes. Application of DAPG-producing P. fluorescens for nematode management should consequently be targeted to nematode species affected by DAPG or other antibiotics produced by the applied isolates, or the bacteria should be used for effects such as induced plant resistance.