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Genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of an antifungal biocontrol strain belonging to Bacillus subtilis
Author(s) -
Marten P.,
Smalla K.,
Berg G.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 1364-5072
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2672.2000.01136.x
Subject(s) - bacillus subtilis , biology , dna profiling , microbiology and biotechnology , pulsed field gel electrophoresis , genotype , genomic dna , restriction enzyme , rapd , genetics , dna , genetic diversity , bacteria , gene , population , demography , sociology
Physiological and molecular fingerprints of biotechnologically relevant rhizobacteria are necessary for registration, patenting, recognition and quality checking of the strains. To characterize the biological control agent, Bacillus subtilis B2g, the strain was compared with other plant‐associated B. subtilis isolates. Phenotypic characterization included biochemical and nutritional properties, in vitro activity and analysis of potential antagonistic mechanisms towards several plant pathogenic fungi. According to the phenotypic characteristics, it was not possible to differentiate the biocontrol agent from the other strains, although the enzymatic fingerprint was unique. Genotypic diversity among the isolates was characterized by molecular fingerprinting methods using REP–PCR (repetitive extragenomic palindromic PCR), and macrorestriction of genomic DNA and electrophoretic separation of DNA fragments by pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). A protocol for PFGE analysis using restriction enzyme Sfi I for B. subtilis was developed. PFGE typing of B. subtilis B2g resulted in a unique fingerprint. Therefore, it was possible to differentiate B. subtilis B2g, the biocontrol agent of Phytovit ® , from other antifungal B. subtilis isolates.