Potato seed dressing with Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain RZ9 enhances yield and reduces black scurf

A rhizospheric strain RZ9 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was assessed for in-vitro growth inhibition of Rhizoctonia solani and effectiveness to control black scurf on potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) of the cultivars Spunta and Nicola, in greenhouse and field experiments. The strain RZ9 inhibited R. solani mycelial growth by more than 60% and completely inhibited the germination of sclerotia from infested potato tubers in in-vitro tests. In greenhouse assays, seed potato treatment with RZ9 cell suspension increased stem length, decreased the relative weight of infected potato tubers (by 67%), and increased the potato yield (by 16%) compared to pathogen-inoculated plants for both potato cultivars. In field trials conducted on sandy soils during 2012 and 2013, strain RZ9 reduced black scurf incidence and increased potato yield by an average of 5.3 t ha-1 for ′Spunta′ and 5 t ha-1 for ′Nicola′. This study showed that the selected strain of P. aeruginosa is an efficient bacterium for enhancing yield and reducing black scurf of field-grown potatoes

Sinorhizobium meliloti can protect Medicago truncatula against Phoma medicaginis attack

The Sinorhizobium meliloti microsymbiont of Medicago spp. was used in an antibiosis test against Phoma medicaginis and in bioprotection assays of Medicago truncatula JA17 from the pathogen. Among 17 S. meliloti strains isolated from root nodules of M. truncatula and Medicago laciniata grown in Tunisian soils, six showed up to 60% growth inhibition of five P. medicaginis strains isolated from infected field-grown M. truncatula. Two S. meliloti strains with differing in vitro effects on P. medicaginis, 10.16/R6 antagonist and 5M6 non antagonist, were used in a bioprotection assay of M. truncatula JA17 from the pathogen. The inoculation of P. medicaginis caused complete root and stem rotting, and the mortality of all treated plantlets. Inoculation of the antagonist S. meliloti strain 10.16/R6 to M. truncatula JA17 infected with P. medicaginis was associated with a significant 65% decrease of vegetative rotting length, an 80% decrease of plant mortality, an increase of root length, and enhancement of root and shoot biomass comparatively to control plantlets treated with P. medicaginis. The inoculation of the non antagonistic S. meliloti strain 5M6 slightly decreased disease and slightly increased plant growth parameters

<I>Sinorhizobium meliloti</I> can protect <I>Medicago truncatula</I> against <I>Phoma medicaginis</I> attack

The Sinorhizobium meliloti microsymbiont of Medicago spp. was used in an antibiosis test against Phoma medicaginis and in bioprotection assays of Medicago truncatula JA17 from the pathogen. Among 17 S. meliloti strains isolated from root nodules of M. truncatula and Medicago laciniata grown in Tunisian soils, six showed up to 60% growth inhibition of five P. medicaginis strains isolated from infected field-grown M. truncatula. Two S. meliloti strains with differing in vitro effects on P. medicaginis, 10.16/R6 antagonist and 5M6 non antagonist, were used in a bioprotection assay of M. truncatula JA17 from the pathogen. The inoculation of P. medicaginis caused complete root and stem rotting, and the mortality of all treated plantlets. Inoculation of the antagonist S. meliloti strain 10.16/R6 to M. truncatula JA17 infected with P. medicaginis was associated with a significant 65% decrease of vegetative rotting length, an 80% decrease of plant mortality, an increase of root length, and enhancement of root and shoot biomass comparatively to control plantlets treated with P. medicaginis. The inoculation of the non antagonistic S. meliloti strain 5M6 slightly decreased disease and slightly increased plant growth parameters

Membranous nephropathy succeeding autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant: a case report

Abstract Background Membranous nephropathy (MN), the leading cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults, is characterized by the deposition of subepithelial immune deposits. Most of the cases are primary, while only approximately 25% of the cases are secondary to some known diseases. Recently, MN has been considered to be a possible presentation of chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) of the kidney in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) patients. In autologous HSCT populations, there have been scarce reports of associated MN, as a result of immune dysregulation leading to systemic autoimmunity and miming chronic GVHD. Case presentation We report an exceptional case of MN associated to an acute renal failure occurring within days following an autologous HSCT indicated by multiple myeloma. There was no evidence of GVHD or myeloma relapse. A complete remission of nephrotic syndrome with normalization of renal function were rapidly obtained by corticosteroid therapy. Conclusion This is the first published case of acute renal failure due to MN occurring in the acute phase of an autologous HSCT. These findings support the antibodymediated autoimmune glomerular disease

Colonization of Phaseolus vulgaris nodules by Agrobacterium-like strains

Publication Inra prise en compte dans l'analyse bibliométrique des publications scientifiques mondiales sur les Fruits, les Légumes et la Pomme de terre. Période 2000-2012. http://prodinra.inra.fr/record/256699International audienceNon-nodulating Agrobacterium-like strains identified among root nodule isolates of common bean were labeled with gusA, a reporter gene encoding β-glucuronidase (GUS). Bean plants were then co-inoculated with an infective Rhizobium strain and labeled transconjugants of Agrobacterium-like strains. Blue staining of nodules showed that Agrobacterium-like strains were able to colonize these symbiotic organs. Isolation and characterization by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA genes revealed a mixed population of Rhizobium and Agrobacterium-like strains in all nodules showing GUS activity. PCR amplification of the nifH gene and nodulation tests did not show any evidence of acquisition of symbiotic gene by lateral transfer from Rhizobium to Agrobacterium-like strains. Moreover, these strains were able to invade mature nodules. Based on sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, one of these Agrobacterium-like strains showed 99.4% sequence similarity with Agrobacterium bv. 1 reference strains and 99% similarity with an Agrobacterium bv. 1 strain isolated from Acacia mollisima in Senegal. Agrobacterium tumefaciens C58 and the disarmed variant AT123 did not show any ability to colonize nodules. Co-inoculation of bean seeds with Agrobacterium and Rhizobium strains did not enhance nodulation and plant yield under controlled conditions

The bean rhizosphere Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain RZ9 strongly reduces Fusarium culmorum growth and infectiveness of plant roots

A faba bean rhizospheric Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolate RZ9 was used for studying its antifungal activity and protecting effects of faba bean and common bean against the root pathogen Fusarium culmorum strain MZB47. The dual culture tests showed that RZ9 inhibits MZB47 in vitro growth by 56%. When mixing RZ9 cell suspension with MZB47 macroconidia at equal proportion, the macroconidia viability was reduced with 70%. Pathogenicity tests conducted in sterile conditions showed that MZB47 caused an intense root rotting in faba bean ‘Aquadulce’ plantlets and a slight level in common bean ‘Coco blanc’. This was associated to significant decreases in plant growth only in ‘Aquadulce’, reducing shoot dry weight (DW) by 82% and root DW by 70%. In soil samples, MZB47 caused severe root rotting and induced significant decreases in shoot DW (up to 51%) and root DW (up to 60%) for both beans. It was associated to a decrease in nodule number by 73% and 52% for faba bean and common bean, respectively. Biocontrol assays revealed that the inoculation of RZ9 to MZB47-treated plantlets enhanced shoot DWs (25% and 110%) and root DWs (29% and 67%), in faba bean and common bean, respectively. Moreover, root rotting levels decreased and nodule number increased in treated compared to untreated plantlets. Collected data highlighted the disease severity of F. culmorum and demonstrated the potential of using RZ9 in controlling Fusaria root diseases in beans. Thereby, the current study represents the first report on the biocontrol effectiveness of P. aeruginosa against F. culmorum in beans

Agrobacterium strains isolated from root nodules of common bean specifically reduce nodulation by Rhizobium gallicum

Publication Inra prise en compte dans l'analyse bibliométrique des publications scientifiques mondiales sur les Fruits, les Légumes et la Pomme de terre. Période 2000-2012. http://prodinra.inra.fr/record/256699International audienceIn a previous work, we showed that non-nodulating agrobacteria strains were able to colonize root nodules of common bean. Both rhizobia and agrobacteria co-existed in the infected nodules. No impact on symbiosis was found in laboratory conditions when using sterile gravel as a support for growth. In this study, soil samples originating from different geographic and agronomic regions in Tunisia were inoculated with a mixture of agrobacteria strains isolated previously from root nodules of common bean. A significant effect on nodulation and vegetal growth of common bean was observed. Characterization of nodulating rhizobia and comparison with non-inoculated controls showed a biased genetic structure. It seemed that Rhizobium gallicum was highly inhibited, whereas nodulation by Sinorhizobium medicae was favored. Co-inoculation of non-sterile soils with R. gallicum and agrobacteria confirmed these findings. In vitro antibiosis assays indicated that agrobacteria exercised a significant antagonism against R. gallicum

Alternaria alternata peritonitis in a patient undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

Fungal peritonitis is a serious complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD) leading to loss of ultrafiltration and discontinuation of PD treatment. The most frequently isolated fungi are Candida albicans and, filamentous fungi such Alternaria alternata species are found only rarely. We report the case of a 75-year-old woman who developed peritonitis due to this black fungus