Biosynthesized silver nanoparticles inhibit Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci by directly destroying bacteria and inducing plant resistance in Nicotiana benthamiana

Abstract

Silver (Ag)-containing agents or materials are widely used today in plant protection for their antimicrobial activity. In view of the superior inhibitory ability of biosynthesized (aldehyde-modified sodium alginate based) silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against plant pathogenic fungi in our previous research, here we explored the antagonistic effect of biosynthesized AgNPs on plant pathogenic bacteria and the underlying mechanism. We selected Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci, the causal agent of tobacco wildfire disease, as the target and found that 1.2 μg/mL biosynthesized AgNPs completely inhibited the growth of P. syringae pv. tabaci in vitro and in vivo by partly destroying the cell membrane structure of the pathogen, resulting in cytoplasmic leakage. Moreover, Nicotiana benthamiana treated with 1.2 μg/mL biosynthesized AgNPs exhibited a significant upregulation of nonexpressor of pathogenesis-related genes 1 (NPR1) and pathogenesis-related gene 2 (PR2), the typical markers of the salicylic acid (SA)-mediated defense system, and an increase in peroxidase (POD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activities as well as the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, biosynthesized AgNPs treatment increased the chlorophyll content and dry weight of N. benthamiana. Overall, we demonstrated that biosynthesized AgNPs at a low concentration have high inhibitory effect on the pathogen causing tobacco wildfire disease by destroying bacterial cell membrane and inducing defense resistance in host plant. These results lay a theoretical foundation for further application of biosynthesized AgNPs in the control of plant bacterial diseases.