Journal of Applied Microbiology (2010) 109, 567-582

N.T.T. Nga, N.T. Giau, N.T. Long, M. Lübeck, N.P. Shetty, E. De Neergaard, T.T.T. Thuy, P.V. Kim and H.J.L. Jørgensen (2010)
Rhizobacterially induced protection of watermelon against Didymella bryoniae
Journal of Applied Microbiology 109 (2), 567-582
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 23_1-1.
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 23_1-1 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 23_1-1 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 23_1-1 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.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Mette Lübeck

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
resistance/tolerance/defence of host
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum	Watermelon/colocynth (Citrullus)	Vietnam
Pseudomonas aeruginosa (antagonist)	Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum	Watermelon/colocynth (Citrullus)	Vietnam