Pseudomonas putida strain 17 isolated from replant soil promotes tomato growth and inhibits conidial germination of soilborne plant pathogens

Abstract

The induction of growth promotion on numerous crops by rhizobacteria is a well documented phenomenon. In case of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), fruit yield is higher in replant soil than that in fresh soil. To investigate what kind of rhizobacterium is involved, microbial community in rhizosphere and on rhizoplane of tomato plants from each soil was analyzed by dilution plating on selective media. Many Gram-negative bacteria and actinomycetes were isolated from tomato in replant soil. One Gram-negative rhizobacterium isolated was identified as Pseudomonas putida based on its biochemical characteristics, fatty acid methyl ester analysis and 16S rDNA sequence. This bacterium designated strain 17 inhibited the growth of Pseudomonas corrugata, and increased growth of tomato seedlings. In addition, its culture filtrate inhibited conidial germination of plant-pathogenic fungi such as Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici, F. oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum, and Nectria radicicola. Scanning electron microscopy revealed strain 17 colonized and persisted on the epidermal surfaces of tomato radicles and roots. These results suggest that P. putida strain 17 may serve as a biological control agent to suppress multiple soil-borne diseases for tomato plants. Increased microbial populations that suppress deleterious microorganisms including pathogens could be one of the major factors in increased tomato yield in replant soil. © The Korean Society of Plant Pathology.