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Title: FUSARIC ACID, A FUSARIUM VERTICILLIOIDES METABOLITE, USEFUL AGAINST THE ENDOPHYTIC BACTERIUM BACILLUS MOJAVENSIS.

Author
item Bacon, Charles
item Hinton, Dorothy
item PORTER, JAMES - ARS-RETIRED
item Glenn, Anthony - Tony
item KULDAU, G - PLANT PATH/PENN STATE U

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2003
Publication Date: 7/10/2003
Citation: BACON, C.W., HINTON, D.M., PORTER, J.K., GLENN, A.E., KULDAU, G. FUSARIC ACID, A FUSARIUM VERTICILLIOIDES METABOLITE, USEFUL AGAINST THE ENDOPHYTIC BACTERIUM BACILLUS MOJAVENSIS.. PHYTOPATHOLOGY. 2003. v.93(16)(Suppl.1). Abstract p.56.

Interpretive Summary: Abstract only.

Technical Abstract: Antagonism among microorganisms are strategies that maintain both inter- and intra-specific competition, which is particularly important among those microorganisms that are ecological homologues. A biocontrol bacterium, Bacillus mojavensis, is patented as an endophytic biocontrol agent of plant diseases. However, field use of this bacterium indicated that equally successful endophytes, such as Fusarium verticillioides, are superior in colonizing maize in the presence of this bacterium. It was determined that fusaric acid accounted for the reduction in bacterial growth and resulting decrease in biocontrol activity. Fusaric acid, at concentrations as low as 22 microM, accounted for a 41% reduction in the growth of this bacterium. It is also toxic to this bacterium. Fusaric acidless mutants of F. verticillioides were ineffective in colonizing B. mojavensis-infected maize, suggesting that the biocontrol bacterium must be modified to resist fusaric acid before its use under field conditions.