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Occurrence of fungal‐inhibiting Pseudomonas on caryopses of Tripsacum dactyloides L. and its implication for seed survival and agriculture application
Author(s) -
Anderson R. C.,
Liberta A. E.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
journal of applied bacteriology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 0021-8847
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2672.1986.tb04276.x
Subject(s) - germination , scarification , biology , pseudomonas , fungicide , horticulture , bacteria , captan , agar , botany , dormancy , genetics
Pseudomonas bacteria capable of inhibiting maize fungal pathogens were isolated from caryopses of three of 11 populations of eastern gamagrass ( Tripsacum dactyloides ) collected from eastern and central United States. The bacteria inhibited fungal pathogens in pure cultures and a zone of fungal inhibition 1–2 cm wide occurred around surface sterilized maize kernels that were treated with the bacteria and placed in culture dishes containing 2% maize meal agar. In cold‐soil germination tests, there were no significant ( P < 0.05) differences in germination of scarified maize kernels that were treated with gum arabic (sticking agent) and one of the bacterial strains (98%) or the commercial fungicide, Captan (96%). Both of these treatments resulted in significantly higher germination than scarification (50%) or scarification and gum arabic alone (58%). Non‐scarified controls had 85% germination. The results indicate that Pseudomonas may be effective in preventing invasion of damaged seeds by pathogens capable of inhibiting germination and destroying seed embryos.