Scientists worldwide are looking for biological alternatives to chemical pesticides in order to protect crops against pathogens. One of these is the use of bacteria which protect plants, for example, by producing antifungal substances. Danil van den Broek investigated how to improve the reliability of crop protection methods that use these microorganisms.
Van den Broek studied Pseudomonas bacteria. The molecular biologist first of all isolated and described these bacteria, which are found in or on the roots of maize. Of the 214 strains isolated, 46 were found to suppress the growth of pathogenic fungi, for example those which cause black root rot. In total 43 of these 46 medicinal strains spontaneously switched between the two phases.
Van den Broek discovered that these switches were caused by the spontaneous mutation of certain genes. As these mutations are reversible, the bacteria can switch back and forth between the two phases. Spontaneous mutants no longer produced drugs against the fungi, but they grew faster than their fungal-controlling alter egos.
Competition
The phase variation mechanism in these so-called biocontrol bacteria is reversible. Therefore switching between the two phases enables the entire population to respond to changes more quickly. This is a clear competitive advantage. Stressful conditions result in a switch to the non-medicinal form, which increases the competitive and survival chances of the bacteria. If the balance between the medicinal and the non-medicinal forms tips too far the wrong way, the bacteria can no longer adequately control the fungal infections.
Although more than 100 crop protect
'"/>
Contact: Dr Danil van den Broek
d.broek@meandermc.nl
31-338-504-076
Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research
12-Apr-2005