Skip to main content
Log in

Identification of wheat rhizosphere bacteria inhibitory to root growth

  • Published:
Australasian Plant Pathology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Bacteria inhibitory to the growth of wheat isolated from wheat roots were identified using cell wall fatty acids and cultural characteristics. Using fatty acid profiles, the largest single group was identified as Pseudomonas corrugata. Comparison of this group with reference isolates by cultural characteristics showed that although they shared some of the characteristics of P. corrugata they were not identical. When these bacteria were inoculated into tomato stems, symptoms characteristic of those caused by P. corrugata developed although no deaths occurred. It is suggested that these bacteria are part of a poorly characterised group of soil bacteria that show varying pathogenicity to plants.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Burdon, K.J. (1946)—Fatty material in bacteria and fungi revealed by staining dried, fixed slide preparations. Journal of Bacteriology 52: 665–678.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, J.N., Conn, K., Sorlie, L. and Cook, F.D. (1986) —Inhibition of growth in canola seedlings caused by an opportunistic Pseudomonas spp. under laboratory and field conditions. Canadian Journal of Microbiology 32: 201–207.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chan, K.Y., Mead, J.A. and Roberts, W.P. (1987)—Poor early growth of wheat under direct-drilling. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 38: 791–800.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, R.G. and Watson, D.R.W. (1986)—New plant disease record in New Zealand: tomato pith necrosis caused by Pseudomonas corrugata. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 29: 105–109.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cornish, P.S. and Lymbery, J.R. (1987)—Reduced early growth of direct drilled wheat in southern New South Wales: causes and consequences. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 27: 869–880.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cutri, S.S., Macauley, B.J. and Roberts, W.P. (1984)— Characteristics of pathogenic non-flourescent (smooth) and non-pathogenic flourescent (rough) forms of Pseudomonas tolaasii and Pseudomonas gingeri. Journal of Applied Bacteriology 57: 291–298.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dye, D.W. (1962)—The inadequacy of the usual determinative tests for the identification of Xanthomonas spp. New Zealand Journal of Science 5: 393–416.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, L.F. and Lynch, J.M. (1984)—Pseudomonads as a factor in the growth of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Soil Biology and Biochemistry 16: 69–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flori, M., Corda, P. and Carta, C. (1983)—Tomato pith necrosis by Pseudomonas corrugata Roberts and Scarlett. Rivista di Patologia Vegetale S.IV 19: 21–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fredrickson, J.K. and Elliott, L.F. (1985)—Effects on winter wheat seedling growth by toxin-producing rhizobacteria. Plant and Soil 83: 399–409.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fredrickson, J.K., Elliott, L.F. and Engibous, J.C. (1987)— Crop residues as substrate for host-specific inhibitory pseudomonads. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 19: 127–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hewlett-Packard (1997)—HP 5898A Microbial Identification System — Operating Manual. Part no. 19298–90100, Hewlett-Packard Company, Route 41, Avondale, PA 19311, USA.

  • Jones, J.B., Jones, J.P., Stall, R.E. and Miller, J.W. (1983)—Occurrence of stem necrosis on field-grown tomatoes incited by Pseudomonas corrugata in Florida. Plant Disease 67: 425–426.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • King, E.O., Wards, M.K. and Raney, D.E. (1954)—Two simple media for the demonstration of pyocyanin and fluorescein. Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine 44: 301–307.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kohn, S. (1982)—First occurrence of Pseudomonas corrugata as a causal agent of tomato pith necrosis in the Federal Republic of Germany. Nachrichtenblatt fuer den Pflanzenschutzdienst in der DDR 34: 81–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kovacs, N. (1956)—Identification of Pseudomonas pyocyanea by the oxidase reaction. Nature, London 178: 703.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lai, M. Opgenorth, D.C. and White, J.B. (1983)—Occurrence of Pseudomonas corrugata on tomato in California. Plant Disease 67: 110–112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lelliott, R.A., Billing, E. and Hayward, A.C. (1966)—A determinative scheme for the fluorescent plant pathogenic Pseudomonads. Journal of Applied Bacteriology 29: 470–489.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lukezic, F.L. (1979)—Pseudomonas corrugata, a pathogen of tomato, isolated from symptomless alfalfa roots. Phytopathology 69: 27–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mason, I.B. and Fischer, R.A. (1986)—Tillage practices and the growth and yield of wheat in Southern New South Wales: Lockhart, in a 450 mm rainfall region. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 26: 457–468.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Natsuaki, K.T. and Kagiwata, T. (1986)—Occurrence of Pseudomonas corrugata on field-grown tomatoes in Japan. Journal of Agricultural Science 30: 196–202.

    Google Scholar 

  • Natsuaki, T., Sakuma, H., Okuda, S. and Teranaka, M. (1986)—Stem necrosis of tomato caused by Pseudomonas corrugata. Bulletin of the College of Agriculture — Utsunomiya University 13: 11–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scarlett, C.M., Fletcher, J.T., Roberts P. and Lelliott, R.A. (1978)—Tomato pith necrosis caused by Pseudomonas corrugata n.sp. Annals of Applied Biology 88: 105–114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scortichini, M. (1989)—Occurrence in soil and primary infections of Pseudomonas corrugata Roberts and Scarlett. Journal of Phytopathology 125: 33–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suslow, T.V. and Schroth, M.N. (1982)—Role of deleterious rhizobacteria as minor pathogens in reducing crop growth. Phytopathology 72: 111–115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thornley, M.J. (1960)—The differentiation of Pseudornonas from other gram-negative bacteria on the basis of arginine metabolism. Journal of Applied Bacteriology 23: 37–52.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Roberts, W.P., Brewster, C.M. Identification of wheat rhizosphere bacteria inhibitory to root growth. Australasian Plant Pathology 20, 47–51 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1071/APP9910047

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/APP9910047

Keywords

Navigation