Characterizing biofilm development of a bacterial biological control agent
EMSL Project ID
32301
Abstract
There is increasing economic and political pressure for the implementation of sustainable practices for management of agro-ecosystems. The use of biological control agents to manage plant diseases has been touted as a means of increasing sustainability. However, the efficacy of biocontrol agents is inconsistent due to poor survival and colonization of plant surfaces. We have discovered a superior biocontrol agent, Burkholderia pyrrocinia (FP62), against Botrytis cinerea that consistently forms extensive biofilms on plant surfaces. We hypothesize that the ability to form biofilms is responsible for the consistent disease control associated with applications of FP62. FP62 Tn5 mutants, deficient in biofilm formation, are no longer able to control disease and appear to have similar leaf populations using culturing techniques but different populations when viewed microscopically. We propose to examine the spatial and temporal distribution of the wild-type and mutants using Scanning Electron Microscopy and Confocal Scanning Microscopy. The information gained during this investigation will be used to modify application technology to increase the survival and colonization of biocontrol agents on plant surfaces in order to increase their efficacy in controlling plant diseases. FP62 serves as a model organism to further our understanding of the traits that make it an exceptional colonist of plant surfaces and a superior biological control agent. This project requests standard, general access in response to the open call for proposals.
Project Details
Project type
Exploratory Research
Start Date
2009-02-13
End Date
2010-02-14
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Related Publications
Wallace PK. 2010. Evaluation of the Colonization and Biofilm Production by Burkholderia Pyroccinia FP62 on Geranium Leaves . Thesis for the degree of Master of Science in Botany and Plant Pathology
presented on June 11, 2010. Oregon State University.
Wallace PK, BW Arey, and WF Mahaffee. 2011. "Subsurface Examination of a Foliar Biofilm Using Scanning Electron- and Focused-Ion-Beam Microscopy." Micron 42(6):579-585.
Wallace, P. K., W. F. Mahaffee, and T. M. Neill. 2009. Foliar biofilms of Burkholderia pyrrocinia FP62 on geraniums. Phytopathology 99:S136.
Wallace PK, WF Mahaffee, and TM Neill. 2009. "Foliar Biofilms of Burkholderia Pyrrocinia FP62 on Geraniums." Presented by Patricia Wallace at American Phytopathological Society Conference 2009, Portland, OR on August 1, 2009.
Wallace, P. K., W. F. Mahaffee, C. M. Press, M. M. Larsen, and T. M. Neill. 2009. The relationship of biofilm production to biocontrol activity of Burkholderia pyrrocinia FP62. Phytopathology 99:S136.