Enhancing the Efficacy of Bioherbicides

Abstract

Plant pathogenic Pseudomonas spp. are inhibited by certain amino acids due to feedback inhibition or repression of key biosynthetic enzymes in amino acid biosynthesis pathways. As it turns out, plants are similarly inhibited by certain amino acids. These inhibitions can play a large role in plant pathology. For instance, Frenching disease of tobacco is caused by rhizosphere bacteria ( Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus subtilis) that overproduce the amino acid isoleucine. We found that overproduction of an inhibitory amino acid would greatly enhance the virulence of a plant pathogen greatly increasing its efficacy as a bioherbicide for control of noxious weeds.