Author(s)

Melina Sartori, Andrea Nesci, Naresh Magan, Miriam Etcheverry

Applied Micology Group, Cranfield Health, Vincent Building, Cranfield University, Cranfield, UK.
Laboratorio de Ecología Microbiana, Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físico Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Río Cuarto, Argentina.

The aims of this study was to examine the effect of the osmotic (NaCl) water stress on, growth and accumulation of endogenous compatible solutes of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Microbacterium oleovorans, biocontrol agents against Fusarium verticillioides. Triptic soya broth media were modified ionically to 0.99; 0.98; 0.97 and 0.96 a_w with NaCl. The endogenous contents of the intracellular compatible solutes glycine-betaine and ectoine were quantified. Cells grown under ionic solute stress showed accumulation of significant amounts of both amino acids in all treatments. The growth rate of F. verticillioides was decreased significantly by interaction with B. amyloliquefaciens and M. oleovorans physiologically adapted at 0.96 a_w. This study have demonstrated the ability to synthesize betaine and ectoine under high-osmolality conditions of B. amyloliquefaciens and M. oleovorans cells. Such ecophysiological manipulation, especially to water stress, may increase the potential for biological control of F. verticillioides at field under wider a_w conditions.

Biological Control; Osmotic Adaptation; Solute Compatible; Fusarium verticillioides; Maize

Sartori, M. , Nesci, A. , Magan, N. and Etcheverry, M. (2012) Accumulation of the betaine and ectoine in osmotic stress adaptation of biocontrol agents against Fusarium verticillioides in maize. Agricultural Sciences, 3, 83-89. doi: 10.4236/as.2012.31011.