Plant Pathology (2012) 61, 677-688

R. Czajkowski, W.J. de Boer, J.A. van Veen and J.M. van der Wolf (2012)
Studies on the interaction between the biocontrol agent, Serratia plymuthica A30, and blackleg-causing Dickeya sp. (biovar 3) in potato (Solanum tuberosum)
Plant Pathology 61 (4), 677-688
Abstract: Interactions between Serratia plymuthica A30 and a blackleg-causing biovar 3 Dickeya sp. were examined. In a potato slice assay, S. plymuthica A30 inhibited tissue maceration caused by Dickeya sp. IPO2222 when co-inoculated at a density at least 10 times greater than that of the pathogen. In glasshouse experiments, population dynamics of the antagonist and of the pathogen in planta were studied by dilution plating and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) using fluorescent protein-tagged strains. Pathogen-free minitubers were vacuum-infiltrated with DsRed-tagged Dickeya sp. IPO2222 and superficially treated during planting with a water suspension containing GFP-tagged S. plymuthica A30. A30 reduced the blackleg incidence from 55% to 0%. Both the pathogen and the antagonist colonized the seed potato tubers internally within 1 day post-inoculation (dpi). Between 1 and 7 dpi, the population of A30 in tubers increased from 10¹ to c. 10³ CFU g⁻¹ and subsequently remained stable until the end of the experiment (28 dpi). Populations of A30 in stems and roots increased from c. 10² to c. 10⁴ CFU g⁻¹ between 7 and 28 dpi. Dilution plating and CLSM studies showed that A30 decreased the density of Dickeya sp. populations in plants. Dilution plating combined with microscopy allowed the enumeration of strain A30 and its visualization in the vascular tissues of stem and roots and in the pith of roots, as well as its adherence to and colonization of the root surface. The implications of these finding for the use of S. plymuthica A30 as a biocontrol agent are discussed.
(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): Jan M. van der Wolf, Robert Czajkowski

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Dickeya (genus)	Potato (Solanum tuberosum)
Serratia plymuthica (antagonist)	Dickeya (genus)	Potato (Solanum tuberosum)