Suppression of Septoria tritici and Puccinia recondita of wheat by an antibiotic‐producing fluorescent pseudomonad

Abstract

A fluorescent Pseudomonas sp. (strain LEC 1) isolated from soil suppressed Septoria tritici by 88% and Puccinia recondita by 98% when applied to wheat seedlings 3 h prior to inoculation with the pathogens. Fractionation and analysis of two inhibitory compounds from cultures of strain LEC 1 on thin‐layer chromatography plates yielded the phenazine antibiotics 1‐hydroxyphenazine (phOH) and chlorora‐phin. 1‐hydroxyphenazine reduced the growth of Pythium aphanidermatum, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. vasinfectum, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and S. rolfsii on a denned medium, with greatest activity against P. aphanidermatum and least against S. rolfsii. Application of 160 mg/l phOH to wheat seedlings reduced S. tritici by 61% and P. recondita by 75%. Lower concentrations of the antibiotic were less effective. Growth of 5. tritici in liquid medium was reduced by phOH at 5–20 mg/l and prevented at 40 mg/l. When phOH was added to the medium 48 h after inoculation (logarithmic growth phase), growth was interrupted but later recovered with phOH concentrations up to 40 mg/l; there was no recovery at 60 mg/l. Chlororaphin inhibited the growth of S. tritici on malt agar medium.