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Characterization of fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. associated with roots and soil of two sorghum genotypes

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Abstract

Sorghum is used as bioenergy feedstock, animal feed, and food. Economical methods for disease prevention and control are valuable for producers. Fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. were isolated from sorghum roots and surrounding soil with the goal of finding isolates that significantly inhibited sorghum fungal pathogens. Fluorescent pseudomonads were collected from seedlings of sorghum cultivars RTx433 and Redlan and wheat cultivar Lewjain, grown in two soils. Lewjain is known to support growth of producers of the antibiotic, 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (2,4-DAPG). Isolates from all three plants were assessed for hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and extracellular protease production, and for a 2,4-DAPG gene, phlD. Both soil type and plant type affected HCN- and protease-production, but phlD was not affected. Subsets of phlD + isolates were chosen to determine phlD genotypes and to conduct in vitro inhibition assays against sorghum pathogens. Most isolates from sorghum and wheat were genotype D, previously associated with superior root colonization. phlD + sorghum isolates were co-cultured with five sorghum pathogens. One isolate from each sorghum line exhibited inhibition to all five pathogens but more Redlan isolates were inhibitory to the virulent pathogen, Fusarium thapsinum, than RTx433 isolates. Nearly all inhibitory isolates from either sorghum cultivar were from one soil type. This is consistent with what had been previously observed in field studies: that soil type played a significant role in determining characteristics of fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. isolated from roots or soil, but sorghum genotype also had a considerable effect.

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Notes

  1. SAS and all other SAS Institute Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of SAS Institute Inc. in the USA and other countries. ® indicates USA registration.

Abbreviations

2,4-DAPG:

2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol

FIA:

Fungal inhibition assay

PDA:

Potato dextrose agar

phlD :

2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol biosynthetic gene

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank P. O’Neill for overseeing laboratory experiments and conducting statistical analyses, J. Toy for production of greenhouse-grown seed and K. Wohlgemuth and M. Bartels for technical assistance. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this article is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This article is in the public domain and not copyrightable. It may be freely reprinted with customary crediting of source. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250–9410, or call (800) 795–3272 (voice) or (202) 720–6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Grain, Forage and Bioenergy Research Unit, Department of Plant Pathology, USDA-ARS and University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, 68583-0937, USA

    Deanna L. Funnell-Harris

  2. Grain, Forage and Bioenergy Research Unit, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, USDA-ARS and University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, 68583-0937, USA

    Scott E. Sattler & Jeffrey F. Pedersen

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  1. Deanna L. Funnell-Harris
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  2. Scott E. Sattler
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  3. Jeffrey F. Pedersen
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Correspondence to Deanna L. Funnell-Harris.

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Funnell-Harris, D.L., Sattler, S.E. & Pedersen, J.F. Characterization of fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. associated with roots and soil of two sorghum genotypes. Eur J Plant Pathol 136, 469–481 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-013-0179-6

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