In planta detection of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. commiphorae using fyuA and rpoD genes.

Guggal is tapped for extraction of medicinally important oleo–gum–resin (guggul) by inoculating the stem bark with natural gum suspension containing pathogenic bacterium Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. commiphorae (Xac). The tree dies in the process. In absence of any specific medium for isolation of Xac, it is difficult to assess spread of the pathogen within the plant. A PCR based molecular detection technique using fyuA and rpoD gene specific primers is described here. The primers amplified products only from Xac and not from host tissues or common saprophytes. The method was sensitive enough to produce positive signals for up to 4.4 bacterial cells or 2 pg target DNA per reaction mixture. However, PCR inhibitors present in plant tissues drastically reduced the limit of detection. A simple overnight incubation of surface sterilised plant tissues in nutrient medium was introduced to increase pathogen titre and to overcome this problem. This technique was successfully used to measure spread of Xac in plant tissues away from the site of inoculation. The pathogen showed preference for acropetal movement and did not spread to 7–8 cm below the site of inoculation till 15 days after inoculation. This suggests possibility to manage the disease through plant surgery.

Controle de crestamento bacteriano comum (Xanthomonas axonopodis Ppv. phaseoli) e alterações bioquímicas em feijoeiro induzidas por Pycnoporus sanguineus / Control of bacterial blight (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli) and biochemical analyses of bean resistance treated with Pycnoporus sanguineus extracts

O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar as atividades antibacteriana e indutora de resistência de extratos de Pycnoporus sanguineus para controle do crestamento bacteriano comum, causado por Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli, em feijoeiro. In vitro foram utilizados extratos aquosos de basidiocarpo, micélio e filtrado de cultura de P. sanguineus nas concentrações de 1, 5, 10, 15 e 20%, além das testemunhas água, acibenzolar-S-metil (ASM - 125 mg i.a. L-1) e antibiótico (22,5 mg L-1 de oxitetraciclina + 225 mg L-1 de estreptomicina). In vivo foram realizadas avaliações de severidade e atividade de peroxidase, polifenoloxidase, ß-1,3 glucanase e fenilalanina amônia-liase, com o uso de extrato aquoso de micélio e de basidiocarpo e filtrado de cultura de P. sanguineus a 5% e 10%. Verificou-se atividade antibacteriana apenas para o filtrado de cultura em concentrações acima de 15% e para o extrato de basidiocarpo nas concentrações de 1 a 20%. In vivo, os resultados indicaram o potencial de extratos de basidiocarpos de P. sanguineus para o controle de X. axonopodis pv. phaseoli em feijoeiro, com redução média de 56% na severidade, o que pode ter ocorrido tanto por atividade antimicrobiana direta quanto por indução de resistência, envolvendo principalmente a ativação das enzimas de defesa vegetal peroxidase e polifenoloxidase.

The aim of this work was to verify the antimicrobial and resistance induction activities of Pycnoporus sanguineus extracts for the control of common bacterial blight caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli. In vitro assays were performed using aqueous extracts from basidiocarp, mycelium and culture filtrate of P. sanguineus in concentrations of 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20%, with water, acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM - 125 mg a.i. L-1) and antibiotic (oxytetracycline 22.5 mg L-1 + streptomycin 225 mg L-1) as control treatments. For the in vivo assays the disease severity and the activities of peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, ß-1,3 glucanase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase were evaluated using extracts of mycelium, basidiocarp and culture filtrate of P. sanguineus at 5% and 10%. Antibacterial activity was verified only for culture filtrate in concentrations above 15% and for concentrations of 1% to 20% of basidiocarp extract. The results of the in vivo assays indicated the potential of basidiocarps extracts from P. sanguineus for the control of X. axonopodis pv. phaseoli in beans, with an average severity reduction of 56%, which may have been due either to direct antimicrobial activity or to resistance induction involving mainly the activation of the plant defense enzymes peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase.

Defense mechanisms of Solanum tuberosum L. in response to attack by plant-pathogenic bacteria

The natural resistance of plants to disease is based not only on preformed mechanisms, but also on induced mechanisms. The defense mechanisms present in resistant plants may also be found in susceptible ones. This study attempted to analyze the metabolic alterations in plants of the potato Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Agata that were inoculated with the incompatible plant-pathogenic bacteria X. axonopodis and R. solanacearum, and the compatible bacterium E. carotovora. Levels of total phenolic compounds, including the flavonoid group, and the activities of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POX) were evaluated. Bacteria compatibility was evaluated by means of infiltration of tubers. The defense response was evaluated in the leaves of the potato plants. Leaves were inoculated depending on their number and location on the stem. Multiple-leaf inoculation was carried out on basal, intermediate, and apical leaves, and single inoculations on intermediate leaves. Leaves inoculated with X. axonopodis and with R. solanacearum showed hypersensitive responses within 24 hours post-inoculation, whereas leaves inoculated with E. carotovora showed disease symptoms. Therefore, the R. solanacearum isolate used in the experiments did not exhibit virulence to this potato cultivar. Regardless of the bacterial treatments, the basal leaves showed higher PPO and POX activities and lower levels of total phenolic compounds and flavonoids, compared to the apical leaves. However, basal and intermediate leaves inoculated with R. solanacearum and X. axonopodis showed increases in total phenolic compounds and flavonoid levels. In general, multiple-leaf inoculation showed the highest levels of total phenolics and flavonoids, whereas the single inoculations resulted in the highest increase in PPO activity. The POX activity showed no significant difference between single- and multiple-leaf inoculations. Plants inoculated with E. carotovora showed no significant increase ...