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Temmermans J, Legein M, Zhao Y, Kiekens F, Smagghe G, de Coninck B, Lebeer S. The biocontrol agent Lactiplantibacillus plantarum AMBP214 is dispersible to plants via bumblebees. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0095023. [PMID: 37882529 PMCID: PMC10686056 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00950-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Plant protection products are essential for ensuring food production, but their use poses a threat to human and environmental health, and their efficacy is decreasing due to the acquisition of resistance by pathogens. Stricter regulations and consumer demand for cleaner produce are driving the search for safer and more sustainable alternatives. Microbial biocontrol agents, such as microorganisms with antifungal activity, have emerged as a promising alternative management strategy, but their commercial use has been limited by poor establishment and spread on crops. This study presents a novel system to overcome these challenges. The biocontrol agent Lactiplantibacillus plantarum AMBP214 was spray-dried and successfully dispersed to strawberry flowers via bumblebees. This is the first report of combining spray-dried, non-spore-forming bacteria with pollinator-dispersal, which scored better than the state-of-the-art in terms of dispersal to the plant (CFU/flower), and resuscitation of the biocontrol agent. Therefore, this new entomovectoring system holds great promise for the use of biocontrol agents for disease management in agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jari Temmermans
- Department of Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Ecology and Applied Microbiology, Antwerp University, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Marie Legein
- Department of Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Ecology and Applied Microbiology, Antwerp University, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Yijie Zhao
- Laboratory of Plant Health and Protection, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Plant Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Filip Kiekens
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Antwerp University, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Guy Smagghe
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Barbara de Coninck
- Laboratory of Plant Health and Protection, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Plant Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sarah Lebeer
- Department of Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Ecology and Applied Microbiology, Antwerp University, Antwerp, Belgium
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Capacity of soil bacteria to reach the phyllosphere and convergence of floral communities despite soil microbiota variation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2100150118. [PMID: 34620708 PMCID: PMC8521660 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2100150118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of flowers as environmental filters for bacterial communities and the provenance of bacteria in the phyllosphere are currently poorly understood. We experimentally tested the effect of induced variation in soil communities on the microbiota of plant organs. We identified soil-derived bacteria in the phyllosphere and show a strong convergence of floral communities with an enrichment of members of the Burkholderiaceae family. This finding highlights a potential role of the flower in shaping the interaction between plants and a bacterial family known to harbor both plant pathogens and growth-promoting strains. Because the flower involves host–symbiont feedback, the selection of specific bacteria by the reproductive organs of angiosperms could be relevant for the modulation of fruit and seed production. Leaves and flowers are colonized by diverse bacteria that impact plant fitness and evolution. Although the structure of these microbial communities is becoming well-characterized, various aspects of their environmental origin and selection by plants remain uncertain, such as the relative proportion of soilborne bacteria in phyllosphere communities. Here, to address this issue and to provide experimental support for bacteria being filtered by flowers, we conducted common-garden experiments outside and under gnotobiotic conditions. We grew Arabidopsis thaliana in a soil substitute and added two microbial communities from natural soils. We estimated that at least 25% of the phyllosphere bacteria collected from the plants grown in the open environment were also detected in the controlled conditions, in which bacteria could reach leaves and flowers only from the soil. These taxa represented more than 40% of the communities based on amplicon sequencing. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering approaches supported the convergence of all floral microbiota, and 24 of the 28 bacteria responsible for this pattern belonged to the Burkholderiaceae family, which includes known plant pathogens and plant growth-promoting members. We anticipate that our study will foster future investigations regarding the routes used by soil microbes to reach leaves and flowers, the ubiquity of the environmental filtering of Burkholderiaceae across plant species and environments, and the potential functional effects of the accumulation of these bacteria in the reproductive organs of flowering plants.
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Massoni J, Bortfeld-Miller M, Jardillier L, Salazar G, Sunagawa S, Vorholt JA. Consistent host and organ occupancy of phyllosphere bacteria in a community of wild herbaceous plant species. THE ISME JOURNAL 2020; 14:245-258. [PMID: 31624344 PMCID: PMC6908658 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-019-0531-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Revised: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria colonizing the aerial parts of plants (phyllosphere) are linked to the biology of their host. They impact plant-pathogen interactions and may influence plant reproduction. Past studies have shown differences in composition and structure of the leaf, flower, and host microbiota, but an investigation of the impact of individual taxa on these variations remains to be tested. Such information will help to evaluate disparities and to better understand the biology and evolution of the plant-microbe associations. In the present study, we investigated the community structure, occupancy of host and organ, and the prevalence of phyllosphere bacteria from three host species collected at the same location. Almost all (98%) of bacterial taxa detected in the phyllosphere were not only shared across leaves and flowers, or different plant species but also had a conserved prevalence across sub-environments of the phyllosphere. We also found nonrandom associations of the phylogenetic diversity of phyllosphere bacteria. These results suggest that the phyllosphere microbiota is more conserved than previously acknowledged, and dominated by generalist bacteria adapted to environmental heterogeneity through evolutionary conserved traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Massoni
- Department of Biology, Institute of Microbiology, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1-5/10, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Center for Adaptation to a Changing Environment, ETH Zurich, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Miriam Bortfeld-Miller
- Department of Biology, Institute of Microbiology, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1-5/10, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ludwig Jardillier
- Unité d'Ecologie, Systématique et Evolution, CNRS UMR 8079, Université Paris-Sud, 91405, Orsay, France
| | - Guillem Salazar
- Department of Biology, Institute of Microbiology, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1-5/10, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Shinichi Sunagawa
- Department of Biology, Institute of Microbiology, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1-5/10, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Julia A Vorholt
- Department of Biology, Institute of Microbiology, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1-5/10, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland.
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Karise R, Dreyersdorff G, Jahani M, Veromann E, Runno-Paurson E, Kaart T, Smagghe G, Mänd M. Reliability of the entomovector technology using Prestop-Mix and Bombus terrestris L. as a fungal disease biocontrol method in open field. Sci Rep 2016; 6:31650. [PMID: 27530075 PMCID: PMC4987692 DOI: 10.1038/srep31650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2016] [Accepted: 07/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Botrytis cinerea Pers.:Fr. is a major plant pathogen, and a new approach is needed for its control in strawberry to minimise the increasing use of synthetic fungicides. The biofungicide Prestop-Mix, which contains Gliocladium catenulatum, is effective against Botrytis infections; however, the need for frequent applications increases the costs for farmers. Here, we demonstrate that bumble bees, Bombus terrestris L., effectively disseminate the preparation onto flowers in open field conditions. Over the course of three years, we found a highly significant decrease in the rate of Botrytis infection. Pathogen control was achieved with relatively low numbers of G. catenulatum spores per flower, even using flowers that are not highly attractive to bumble bees. An even distribution of spores was detected up to 100 m from the hives, either due to primary inoculation by bumble bees or secondary distribution by other flower visitors such as honey bees and solitary bees. We showed that the application of a biocontrol agent by bumble bees is reliable for the use of environmentally friendly pest control strategies in northern climatic conditions. This low cost technology is especially relevant for organic farming. This study provides valuable information for introducing this method into practice in open strawberry fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reet Karise
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 1, 51014 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Gerit Dreyersdorff
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 1, 51014 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Mona Jahani
- Department of Crop Protection, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Eve Veromann
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 1, 51014 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Eve Runno-Paurson
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 1, 51014 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Tanel Kaart
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 62, 51014 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Guy Smagghe
- Department of Crop Protection, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Marika Mänd
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 1, 51014 Tartu, Estonia
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Mommaerts V, Put K, Vandeven J, Smagghe G. Miniature-dispenser-based bioassay to evaluate the compatibility of powder formulations used in an entomovectoring approach. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2012; 68:922-927. [PMID: 22328246 DOI: 10.1002/ps.3251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2011] [Revised: 11/08/2011] [Accepted: 12/13/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Entomovectoring as a plant protection strategy demands the design of an appropriate bioassay to assess the risks of potential side effects of the powder formulations in the dispenser towards the vectoring insect. This study reports on the development of a laboratory miniature-dispenser-based bioassay. This bioassay system was used to investigate the compatibility of five model products, Prestop-Mix, Signum, kaolin, wheat flour and cellulose, with the bumblebee, Bombus terrestris L. RESULTS The laboratory one-way miniature-dispenser bioassay showed that the fungicides and the carrier/diluent kaolin caused a worker mortality of > 70% after 5 weeks of exposure, while worker loss with wheat flour and cellulose was no higher than in the blank control (i.e. empty miniature dispenser) (<25%). The laboratory two-way miniature-dispenser bioassay comprised separated passageways and demonstrated that only kaolin was toxic (89 ± 11%). These results were also confirmed in a flight-cage experiment. In addition, a negative effect was observed against reproduction/colony development when nests were exposed to kaolin (P < 0.05) in the two-way miniature-dispenser and flight-cage bioassays. CONCLUSIONS In the context of entomovectoring technology, the developed laboratory two-way miniature-dispenser bioassay gives a reliable prediction of the hazards associated with powder products. Additionally, the present data indicate the possibility of using cellulose and kaolin as respective negative and positive control carriers/diluents in future risk assessment experiments. Overall, the results show that, apart from kaolin, the tested fungicides and carriers/diluents are safe to be used with B. terrestris.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veerle Mommaerts
- Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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Mommaerts V, Put K, Smagghe G. Bombus terrestris as pollinator-and-vector to suppress Botrytis cinerea in greenhouse strawberry. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2011; 67:1069-75. [PMID: 21394887 DOI: 10.1002/ps.2147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2010] [Revised: 11/16/2010] [Accepted: 11/27/2010] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bombus terrestris L. bumblebees are widely used as commercial pollinators, but they might also be of help in the battle against economically important crop diseases. This alternative control strategy is referred to as pollinator-and-vector technology. The present study was designed to investigate the capacity of B. terrestris to fulfil this role in greenhouse strawberry flowers, which were manually inoculated with a major plant pathogen, the grey mould Botrytis cinerea Pers.: Fr. A model microbiological control agent (MCA) product Prestop-Mix was loaded in a newly developed two-way bumblebee dispenser, and, in addition, the use of the diluent Maizena-Plus (corn starch) was tested. RESULTS Importantly, loading of the MCA caused no adverse effects on bumblebee workers, with no loss of survival or impairment of flight activity of the workers during the 4 week flowering period. Secondly, vectoring of Prestop-Mix by bumblebees resulted in a higher crop production, as 71% of the flowers developed into healthy red strawberries at picking (preharvest yield) as compared with 54% in the controls. In addition, these strawberries were better protected, as 79% of the picked berries remained free of B. cinerea after a 2 day incubation (post-harvest yield), while this percentage was only 43% in the control. Overall, the total yield (preharvest × post-harvest) was 2-2.5 times higher than the total yield in the controls (24%) in plants exposed to bumblebees vectoring Prestop-Mix. Thirdly, the addition of the diluent Maizena-Plus to Prestop-Mix at 1:1 (w/w) resulted in a similar yield to that of Prestop-Mix used alone, and in no negative effects on the bumblebees, flowers and berries. CONCLUSIONS This greenhouse study provides strong evidence that B. terrestris bumblebees can vector a MCA to reduce B. cinerea incidence in greenhouse strawberries, resulting in higher yields. Similar yields obtained in the treatments with Prestop-Mix and Prestop-Mix + Maizena-Plus suggest an equally efficient dissemination of the biocontrol agent into the flowers with only half the initial concentration of Prestop-Mix, which illustrates the importance of the diluent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veerle Mommaerts
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium.
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