Abstract Detail

Biological Control of diseases and weeds (CFBC)

Takishita, Yoko [1], Smith, Donald [1].

Potential for using a rhizospheric bacterium to control bacterial canker of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.).

Bacterial canker disease, caused by Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm) is one of the most destructive diseases of tomato. The disease can cause substantial crop losses and has become a serious concern for both field and greenhouse tomato production. Existing strategies, such as chemical treatments, have shown only limited efficacy in controlling this disease. Biological control of Cmm is a viable alternative to chemical controls, especially in an organic system. Our laboratory isolated several rhizospheric bacteria and found a strain that showed antagonistic activity against Cmm in vitro. The objectives of this research were to 1) characterize some of the biocontrol traits (e.g. ability to produce siderophore and hydrogen cyanide) of this biocontrol strain, 2) isolate and identify anti-Cmm compound(s) produced by the biocontrol strain, and 3) examine the degree of disease control exhibited by the biocontrol strain and/or its produced anti-Cmm compound(s) on infected tomato seedlings. Our biocontrol strain was shown to produce siderophores, but not hydrogen cyanide, both of which are commonly known antibiotics secreted by rhizospheric bacteria. The culture of our biocontrol strain was subjected to butanol extraction followed by solid phase extraction, and three active fractions purified by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) showed an inhibitory effect on Cmm growth in vitro. Identification of the anti-Cmm compound(s) will be performed using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS). The mode of action, minimum inhibitory concentration, and stability over a range of pH and temperatures of the anti-Cmm compound(s) will also be examined. Growth chamber experiments will be conducted to determine the effectiveness of disease control exhibited by the biocontrol strain and/or its produced anti-Cmm compound(s) on infected tomato seedlings.

1 - McGill University, Plant Science, Macdonald campus, 21,111 Lakeshore road, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Qc, H9X 3V9, Canada

Keywords:
none specified

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Topics
Session: P
Location: Hall D/The Shaw Conference Centre
Date: Monday, July 27th, 2015
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PDW001
Abstract ID:437
Candidate for Awards:None