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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, January 2003, p. 452-460, Vol. 69, No. 1
0099-2240/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AEM.69.1.452-460.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Compost-Induced Suppression of Pythium Damping-Off Is Mediated by Fatty-Acid-Metabolizing Seed-Colonizing Microbial Communities

Mary E. McKellar and Eric B. Nelson*

Department of Plant Pathology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-4203

Received 11 June 2002/ Accepted 6 October 2002

Leaf composts were studied for their suppressive effects on Pythium ultimum sporangium germination, cottonseed colonization, and the severity of Pythium damping-off of cotton. A focus of the work was to assess the role of fatty-acid-metabolizing microbial communities in disease suppression. Suppressiveness was expressed within the first few hours of seed germination as revealed by reduced P. ultimum sporangium germination, reduced seed colonization, and reduced damping-off in transplant experiments. These reductions were not observed when cottonseeds were sown in a conducive leaf compost. Microbial consortia recovered from the surface of cottonseeds during the first few hours of germination in suppressive compost (suppressive consortia) induced significant levels of damping-off suppression, whereas no suppression was induced by microbial consortia recovered from cottonseeds germinated in conducive compost (conducive consortia). Suppressive consortia rapidly metabolized linoleic acid, whereas conducive consortia did not. Furthermore, populations of fatty-acid-metabolizing bacteria and actinobacteria were higher in suppressive consortia than in conducive consortia. Individual bacterial isolates varied in their ability to metabolize linoleic acid and protect seedlings from damping-off. Results indicate that communities of compost-inhabiting microorganisms colonizing cottonseeds within the first few hours after sowing in a Pythium-suppressive compost play a major role in the suppression of P. ultimum sporangium germination, seed colonization, and damping-off. Results further indicate that fatty acid metabolism by these seed-colonizing bacterial consortia can explain the Pythium suppression observed.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Plant Pathology, 334 Plant Science Building, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-4203. Phone: (607) 255-7841. Fax: (607) 255-4471. E-mail: ebn1{at}cornell.edu.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, January 2003, p. 452-460, Vol. 69, No. 1
0099-2240/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AEM.69.1.452-460.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Windstam, S., Nelson, E. B. (2008). Differential Interference with Pythium ultimum Sporangial Activation and Germination by Enterobacter cloacae in the Corn and Cucumber Spermospheres. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 74: 4285-4291 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Windstam, S., Nelson, E. B. (2008). Temporal Release of Fatty Acids and Sugars in the Spermosphere: Impacts on Enterobacter cloacae-Induced Biological Control. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 74: 4292-4299 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • KAVROULAKIS, N., PAPADOPOULOU, K. K., NTOUGIAS, S., ZERVAKIS, G. I., EHALIOTIS, C. (2006). Cytological and Other Aspects of Pathogenesis-related Gene Expression in Tomato Plants Grown on a Suppressive Compost. ANN BOT (LOND) 98: 555-564 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


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