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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Parlier, California » San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center » Crop Diseases, Pests and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #433279
Research Project: Development of Applied Management Systems for Diseases of Perennial Crops with Emphasis on Vector-Borne Pathogens of Grapevine and Citrus

Location: Crop Diseases, Pests and Genetics Research

Title: Nematode suppression by chitinase-producing bacteria isolated from soil and insect samples

Author
item Burbank, Lindsey
item YANG, JIUE-IN - University Of California, Riverside

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/13/2026
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Nematode pests have significant detrimental impacts on crop yield, and are challenging to control sustainably. Suppression of nematode populations with biological control such as beneficial bacterial species has potential to improve crop yields without adverse environmental impacts. The objective of this study was to identify new beneficial bacteria that suppress nematode populations in soil and improve plant growth. Bacteria were isolated from soil samples and insects (Planococcus ficus), and selected for ability to grow on chitin as a carbon source and produce chitin-degrading enzymes. Five bacterial isolates were identified with chitin-degrading activity: KC15 (Bacillus mobilis), MB22-1 (Paenibacillus sp.), MB22-4 (Streptomyces sp.), So8-39b (Paenibacillus illinoisensis), and So8-40a (Roseateles sp.). These isolates were also tested for protease secretion and siderophore production, phenotypes often associated with biological control activity. All bacterial isolates except So8-39b showed secreted protease activity on skim milk agar plates. Isolates So8-40a and MB22-1 showed siderophore activity on chrome-azurol S indicator medium. Over two trials of plant assays, all five bacterial isolates significantly reduced the female and cysts amount of Sugarbeet Cyst Nematode (Heterodera schachtii) on cabbage after 3 nematode generations, with the most significant reduction from So8-39b. Overall, these new bacterial isolates selected for chitin-degrading capabilities show potential for biological control for management of nematode pests.