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Differences in Microbial Activity and Microbial Populations of Peat Associated with Suppression of Damping-Off Disease Caused by Pythium sylvaticum

Paul J. Hunter,^* Geoff M. Petch, Leo A. Calvo-Bado, Tim R. Pettitt, Nick R. Parsons, J. Alun W. Morgan, and John M. Whipps

Warwick HRI, University of Warwick, Wellesbourne, Warwick CV35 9EF, United Kingdom

Received 8 February 2006/ Accepted 16 July 2006

The microbiological characteristics associated with disease-suppressive peats are unclear. We used a bioassay for Pythium sylvaticum-induced damping-off of cress seedlings to identify conducive and suppressive peats. Microbial activity in unconditioned peats was negatively correlated with the counts of P. sylvaticum at the end of the bioassay. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profiling and clone library analyses of small-subunit rRNA gene sequences from two suppressive and two conducive peats differed in the bacterial profiles generated and the diversity of sequence populations. There were also significant differences between bacterial sequence populations from suppressive and conducive peats. The frequencies of a number of microbial groups, including the Rhizobium-Agrobacterium group (specifically sequences similar to those for the genera Ochrobactrum and Zoogloea) and the Acidobacteria, increased specifically in the suppressive peats, although no single bacterial group was associated with disease suppression. Fungal DGGE profiles varied little over the course of the bioassay; however, two bands associated specifically with suppressive samples were detected. Sequences from these bands corresponded to Basidiomycete yeast genera. Although the DGGE profiles were similar, fungal sequence diversity also increased during the bioassay. Sequences highly similar to those of Cryptococcus increased in relative abundance during the bioassay, particularly in the suppressive samples. This study highlights the importance of using complementary approaches to molecular profiling of complex populations and provides the first report that basidiomycetous yeasts may be associated with the suppression of Pythium-induced diseases in peats.

Present address: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom.

Present address: Eden Project, Bodelva, Cornwall PL24 2SG, United Kingdom.

Present address: Risk Initiative & Statistical Consultancy Unit, Department of Statistics, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom.

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