Characterization of fluorescent pseudomonads responsible for the yellowing of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus)

Fluorescent pseudomonads isolated from different lesions on caps and/or stipes of cultivated Pleurotus ostreatus were identified as strains of Pseudomonas tolaasii or showed the White Line Assay (WLA) feature of P. ‘reactans’ or were WLA-negative fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. Pseudomonas tolaasii was consistently associated with brown-reddish blotches on P. ostreatus pseudo-tissues, and in the pathogenicity assays caused depressed dark brown lesions with deliquescence on Agaricus bisporus pseudo-tissues blocks and brown-reddish blotches and yellow discoloration on P. ostreatus sporocarps. Pseudomonas ‘reactans’ and the WLA-negative fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. were mostly associated with superficial yellow lesions on P. ostreatus sporocarps, and in pathogenicity assays caused light or dark brown discoloration, depending on the isolates, on A. bisporus pseudo-tissues blocks and the yellow discoloration of P. ostreatus sporocarps. The results of this study indicate that the aetiology of lesions on cultivated P. ostreatus involves a complex composed of interactions between P. tolaasii, P. ‘reactans’ and Pseudomonas spp., but that individually these bacteria cause different symptoms. This is the first report where the pathogenicity features of these pathogens has been clearly ascertained, and that has fully satisfied Koch’s postulates for the bacteria on the host mushroom. On the basis of virulence, biochemical and physiological characters, the isolates of P. ‘reactans’ and Pseudomonas spp. responsible for yellowing of oyster mushroom belong to several species of Pseudomonas

Iacobellis

Summary. From superficial brown discolorations on the caps and stalks of deformed sporophores of Agaricus bisporus, bacteria were consistently isolated. On the basis of biochemical, nutritional and pathogenic characteristics, both on tissue blocks and on whole sporophores of A. bisporus, the above bacteria were identified as strains of Pseudomonas agarici

Response of traditional cultivars of Fagioli di Sarconi beans to artificial inoculation with common bacterial blight agents

Cultivars of the Fagioli di Sarconi are a pool of high value common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) traditional cultivars selected from various landraces. These cultivars are protected by the European Union (Reg. CEE n° 1263/96) with the mark PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) and are cultivated in Basilicata (southern Italy) for the production of dry seeds. Fagioli di Sarconi cultivars are susceptible to common bacterial blight (CBB), a disease caused by the varieties fuscans and non-fuscans of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli. Five Fagioli di Sarconi cultivars (Tondino bianco, Verdolino, Cannellino, Tabacchino and Ciuoto) were artificially inoculated with two virulent strains of this bacterium, representative of 59 recently characterized strains of both the fuscans and non-fuscans varieties, with the aim to evaluate the susceptibility of these cultivars to the pathogens. Four CBB–resistant breeding–lines were used for comparison. Suspensions of the bacterium were injected into the first trifoliate leaflets of bean plants and produced typical CBB symptoms on the Fagioli di Sarconi cultivars, and hypersensitive necrotic lesions on the CBB–resistant breeding–lines. When cultivars were inoculated with the strain of the variety fuscans, Tondino bianco, Verdolino and Cannellino were more susceptible than Tabacchino and Ciuoto, whereas when they were inoculated with the non–fuscans strains, Tondino bianco, Tabacchino and Verdolino were more susceptible than Ciuoto and Cannellino. The tolerant cultivars appeared good candidates for the introgression of CBB–resistance characters in a breeding programme. The varying response of the traditional Fagioli di Sarconi bean cultivars to artificial inoculation suggests that several plant and pathogen factors are involved in the interaction between X. a. pv. phaseoli varieties and the bean cultivars

Bioactive and Structural Metabolites of Pseudomonas and Burkholderia Species Causal Agents of Cultivated Mushrooms Diseases1

Pseudomonas tolaasii, P. reactans and Burkholderia gladioli pv. agaricicola, are responsible of diseases on some species of cultivated mushrooms. The main bioactive metabolites produced by both Pseudomonas strains are the lipodepsipeptides (LDPs) tolaasin I and II and the so called White Line Inducing Principle (WLIP), respectively, LDPs which have been extensively studied for their role in the disease process and for their biological properties. In particular, their antimicrobial activity and the alteration of biological and model membranes (red blood cell and liposomes) was established. In the case of tolaasin I interaction with membranes was also related to the tridimensional structure in solution as determined by NMR combined with molecular dynamic calculation techniques. Recently, five news minor tolaasins, tolaasins A–E, were isolated from the culture filtrates of P. tolaasii and their chemical structure was determined by extensive use of NMR and MS spectroscopy. Furthermore, their antimicrobial activity was evaluated on target micro-organisms (fungi—including the cultivated mushrooms Agaricus bisporus, Lentinus edodes, and Pleurotus spp.—chromista, yeast and bacteria). The Gram positive bacteria resulted the most sensible and a significant structure-activity relationships was apparent. The isolation and structure determination of bioactive metabolites produced by B. gladioli pv. agaricicola are still in progress but preliminary results indicate their peptide nature. Furthermore, the exopolysaccharide (EPS) from the culture filtrates of B. gladioli pv. agaricicola, as well as the O-chain and lipid A, from the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of the three bacteria, were isolated and the structures determined

Response of traditional cultivars of Fagioli di Sarconi beans to artificial inoculation with common bacterial blight agents

Cultivars of the Fagioli di Sarconi are a pool of high value common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) traditional cultivars selected from various landraces. These cultivars are protected by the European Union (Reg. CEE n° 1263/96) with the mark PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) and are cultivated in Basilicata (southern Italy) for the production of dry seeds. Fagioli di Sarconi cultivars are susceptible to common bacterial blight (CBB), a disease caused by the varieties fuscans and non-fuscans of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli. Five Fagioli di Sarconi cultivars (Tondino bianco, Verdolino, Cannellino, Tabacchino and Ciuoto) were artificially inoculated with two virulent strains of this bacterium, representative of 59 recently characterized strains of both the fuscans and non-fuscans varieties, with the aim to evaluate the susceptibility of these cultivars to the pathogens. Four CBB–resistant breeding–lines were used for comparison. Suspensions of the bacterium were injected into the first trifoliate leaflets of bean plants and produced typical CBB symptoms on the Fagioli di Sarconi cultivars, and hypersensitive necrotic lesions on the CBB–resistant breeding–lines. When cultivars were inoculated with the strain of the variety fuscans, Tondino bianco, Verdolino and Cannellino were more susceptible than Tabacchino and Ciuoto, whereas when they were inoculated with the non–fuscans strains, Tondino bianco, Tabacchino and Verdolino were more susceptible than Ciuoto and Cannellino. The tolerant cultivars appeared good candidates for the introgression of CBB–resistance characters in a breeding programme. The varying response of the traditional Fagioli di Sarconi bean cultivars to artificial inoculation suggests that several plant and pathogen factors are involved in the interaction between X. a. pv. phaseoli varieties and the bean cultivars

Preliminary evidence on the use of essential oils for seed sanitation

Presidential Meeting 2006, Sustainable disease management: the European perspective