The main aim of the current study was to determine the prevalence and diversity of potentially zoonotic bacterial genera in accurately identified indigenous rodents from South Africa. Bacterial prevalence and diversity were determined by PCR amplification and sequence analyses. Rodents were molecularly identified by amplification and sequence analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene region. Three species (Aethomys ineptus, Mastomys coucha and Otomys angoniensis) belonging to murid species complexes were identified. Furthermore, phylogenetic analyses revealed that both the proposed subspecies (R. dilectus dilectus and R. d. chakae) within the recently erected Rhabdomys dilectus occur in Hammanskraal and at the University of Pretoria Experimental farm, both in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. An overall bacterial prevalence of 38.6 % was observed in kidney samples of commensal and natural indigenous rodents after molecular screening with broad range 16S rRNA gene primers. Nucleotide sequence analyses identified a diverse range of bacterial genera namely, Bartonella, Anaplasma, Helicobacter, Burkholderia, Streptococcus, Aerococcus and Lactobacillus. Some members of these genera have been identified as causative agents of human and animal diseases, being transmitted either through environmental contamination or through haematophagous arthropod vectors. Subsequent genus-specific bacterial screening focussed on vector-borne genera identified in the commensal and natural rodent populations sampled. Bartonella prevalence and genetic diversity was compared between a natural and commensal population of the southern multimammate mouse (M. coucha) using two gene regions (Citrate synthase gene and NADH dehydrogenase gamma subunit gene). A significantly higher infection prevalence was detected in the commensal population (92.9 %) as compared to the natural population (56.9 %). No differences however, were detected between infection status and the ectoparasite loads calculated for both rodent populations. Apart from several novel Bartonella strains identified in both M. coucha populations, phylogenetic analyses also identified a species of known zoonotic potential (B. elizabethae) in both populations. The present study represents one of the first to screen indigenous rodents for tick-borne members of the bacterial family Anaplasmataceae. Anaplasma bovis-like DNA was detected in five of the six rodent species sampled (A. ineptus, Lemniscomys rosalia, M. coucha, O. angoniensis and R. dilectus) at an overall prevalence of 39.2 %. The potentially zoonotic Ehrlichia ewingii was detected in M. coucha samples only at a prevalence of 5.3 %. The diverse bacterial genera detected in commensal and natural populations of indigenous rodents comprise members of zoonotic potential and agricultural significance, highlighting the importance of continuous disease surveillance of indigenous rodents. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / National Research Foundation (NRF) / Zoology and Entomology / MSc / Unrestricted

La laitue (*Lactuca sativa*) est une culture d'importance au Québec qui est affectée par de nombreux agents pathogènes dont plusieurs bactéries qui causent de lourdes pertes. Actuellement, très peu de produits phytosanitaires sont homologués au Canada pour lutter contre les maladies bactériennes de la laitue notamment la tache bactérienne (*Xanthomonas campestris* pv. *vitians*) et la maladie des taches et des nervures noires (*Pseudomonas cichorii*). Cette étude avait pour objectifs : (1) de déterminer les propriétés antibactériennes envers *X. campestris* pv. *vitians* et *P. cichorii* d'extraits à base de brocoli (*Brassica oleracea* var. *italica*), navet (*Brassica rapa* subsp. *rapa*), roquette (*Eruca sativa*), canola (*Brassica napus*), radis (*Raphanus sativus*), rhubarbe (*Rheum rhabarbarum*) et canneberge (*Vaccinium macrocarpon*); (2) de déterminer *in vitro* les doses phytotoxiques des extraits chez la laitue et (3) d'évaluer l'effet de l'application foliaire des extraits sur le développement de la tache bactérienne et des symptômes de phytotoxicité chez des laitues cultivées en serre. Les extraits de rhubarbe, de canneberge, de feuilles de radis et de navet ont montré *in vitro* des propriétés bactéricides contre l'une ou l'autre des bactéries à l'étude. Les doses phytotoxiques déterminées *in vitro* de chacun des extraits étaient comparables à l'exception de l'extrait de rhubarbe qui présentait des doses phytotoxiques plus élevées. Lors des deux bioessais réalisés en serre, l'application foliaire de l'extrait de rhubarbe a réduit significativement l'incidence ou la sévérité de la tache bactérienne chez les plants de laitue des cultivars Green Tower et Grand Rapids. L'extrait de rhubarbe a toutefois causé sur le feuillage des laitues des symptômes de phytotoxicité dont la sévérité augmentait généralement avec la concentration de l'extrait et le nombre d'application. Il serait intéressant dans les travaux futurs d'identifier la(les) molécule(s) de l'extrait de rhubarbe responsable(s) de l'effet prophylactique et celle(s) causant des symptômes de phytotoxicité.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Soil is a structurally complex environment and an important reservoir of microbial diversity. Only a small portion of this diversity has been recovered and cultured by conventional techniques, which limits the access to genetic and metabolic information in such microorganisms. Soil bacteria synthesize a wide variety of secondary metabolites, particularly of antibiotics. Polyketide synthase (PKS) and non-ribosomal peptide synthetase have been highlighted as important enzymatic systems for the biosynthesis of these compounds. The detection of genes associated with these two biosynthetic systems in bacterial isolates has become a strategy to screening for antagonists with high biological control activity. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate bacterial isolates for their in vitro antagonistic activity against plant pathogens of agricultural interest and to analyze their genomes for the presence of genes associated with the synthesis of bioactive compounds activity. Methods of soil sample pre-treatment with chloramine-T and phenol were used for selective isolation and followed by preliminary qualitative antibiosis tests of isolates against the fungal pathogens Thielaviopsis paradoxa and Plenodomus destruens. Extracellular extracts from isolates selected in this previous step were further evaluated for the in vitro antagonist potential against Thielaviopsis paradoxa, Plenodomus destruens and Xanthomonas campestris and compared with the active ingredient of a commercial biofungicide. The taxonomic affiliation of the antagonistic isolates was assessed by sequencing of 16S rDNA gene. For the detection of PKS and NRPS genes, degenerate primers described in the literature were used. Two hundred and fifty-seven bacterial isolates, in their majority belonging to the genus Bacillus or similar, were obtained. Out of those, 84 (33%) were simultaneously bioactive for both fungi in qualitative tests. Fourty-eight bacterial isolates had extracellular extracts with inhibitory effects against Thielaviopsis paradoxa, with eight of these with inhibition ≥80%, when compared to the control. Plenodomus destruens was inhibited by the extracellular extracts of 63 isolates, of which 10 inhibited ≥80% of this pathogen growth. The extract of a Bacillus isolate from a commercial biofungicide strongly inhibited P. destruens (95%), but had no effect on T. paradoxa. Thirty antagonistic isolates from this study did not differed from this commercial isolate regarding in vitro growth inhibition of P. destruens by their extracts of 27 isolates inhibited X. campestris (inhibition rates varying from 45 to 100%), of which six completely suppressed the growth of this bacteria. There was no relationship between either the presence of PKS genes or the joined occurrence of NRPS and PKS and the inhibitory action of the strains on the relative growth of the pathogens. Only the presence of NRPS genes was associated with the effect on the relative growth of Thielaviopsis paradoxa. The isolation of bacteria with promising bioactive potential associated with experiments at greenhouse and field attesting to the feasibility of its use, will enable the achievement of new biocontrol agents. / O solo é um ambiente estruturalmente complexo e um importante reservatório da diversidade microbiana. Somente uma pequena proporção desta diversidade tem sido recuperada e cultivada por técnicas convencionais, o que limita o acesso às informações genéticas e metabólicas desses micro-organismos. Bactérias do solo sintetizam uma ampla variedade de metabólitos secundários, em particular de antimicrobianos. Sintases de policetídeo (PKS) e da sintetases de peptídeo não-ribossomal (NRPS) têm se destacado como importantes sistemas enzimáticos para a biossíntese destes compostos. A detecção de genes associados com estes dois sistemas biossintéticos em isolados de bactérias é uma estratégia para a seleção de antagonistas com alta atividade de controle biológico. Diante disso, o objetivo deste estudo foi isolar e avaliar o potencial dos isolados quanto à atividade antagônica in vitro frente a fitopatógenos de interesse agrícola, e analisar em seus respectivos genomas a presença de genes associados à síntese de compostos bioativos. Métodos de pré-tratamentos das amostras de solo com cloramina T e fenol foram utilizados para o isolamento e seguidos por testes de antibiose qualitativos frente aos fitopatógenos fúngicos Thielaviopsis paradoxa e Plenodomus destruens. Filtrados extracelulares dos isolados selecionados nesta etapa foram quantitativamente avaliados a seguir quanto à capacidade de inibição de T. paradoxa, P. destruens e Xanthomonas campestris, e comparados com o ingrediente ativo de um biofungicida comercial. A afiliação taxonômica dos isolados antagonistas foi realizada com base nas sequências parciais do gene DNAr 16S. Para a detecção dos genes PKS e NRPS foram utilizados primers degenerados descritos na literatura. Dos 257 isoladas bacterianos obtidos, a grande maioria foi pertencente ao gênero Bacillus ou outros proximamente afiliados. Destes, 84 (33%) foram inibitórios de ambos os fungos nos testes qualitativos. Quarenta e oito isolados bacterianos apresentaram filtrados extracelulares com efeitos inibitórios contra T. paradoxa, com oito destes com inibições de mais de 80% comparativamente ao controle sem filtrado. P destruens foi inibido pelo filtrado extracelular de 63 isolados, dos quais 10 inibiram mais de 80% do crescimento deste patógeno. O extrato do isolado de Bacillus do biofungicida comercial apresentou forte inibição sobre P. destruens (95%), mas não afetou T. paradoxa. Trinta isolados antagonistas deste estudo não diferiram deste isolado comercial com relação à inibição do crescimento in vitro de P. destruens pelos extratos. Extratos de 27 isolados inibiram X. campestris (inibições entre 45 e 100% do crescimento), dos quais seis suprimiram totalmente o crescimento desta bactéria. A presença dos genes PKS ou a presença conjunta de genes de NRPS e PKS não foram associadas à ação inibitória dos isolados em relação ao crescimento relativo dos três fitopatógenos. Somente a presença do NRPS associou-se ao efeito sobre o crescimento relativo do Thielaviopsis paradoxa. O isolamento de bactérias com potencial bioativo promissor associado a experimentos em casa-de-vegetação e em campo que atestem a viabilidade do seu uso possibilitará a obtenção de novos agentes de biocontrole.

*‘Pasja’ (Brassica campestris x napus) and kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala L.) were grown at Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand in 2008 with different levels of phosphorus (P) fertiliser. Banded or broadcast P fertiliser was applied at 0, 20, 40 and 60 kg P/ha at establishment. Total dry matter (DM) production, the proportion of the leaf and stem and leaf area development were measured over time and related to the biophysical environment. For ‘Pasja’, final DM increased with P rate from 3730 kg DM/ha to ~4900 kg DM/ha at 60 kg P/ha. For kale the increase was from 8710 kg DM/ha for the control to ~11000 kg DM/ha for all P treatments. The leaf to stem ratio declined from 22-31 at 17 days after emergence to 10.4 at the final harvest for ‘Pasja’, which meant the crop was effectively made up mainly of leaf (~90%). The ratio for kale declined from 2.7 at 24 days after emergence to 0.64 at the final harvest. The leaf to stem ratio for both species did not respond to either the method of application or rate of P. Seedling DM accumulation increased with applied P over the first 10 to 17 DAE for ‘Pasja’ and kale respectively. The crops went from shoot growth priority to root growth. The phyllochron of both species was unaffected by P application but responded linearly to the temperature above 0°C. For ‘Pasja’ the phyllochron was 60°Cd compared with 109°Cd for kale. As a consequence ‘Pasja’ developed its canopy and reached critical leaf area index (LAIcrit) earlier than kale. Leaf area index (LAI) for the control crops of both species was lower than for P fertiliser treatments with a maximum of 3.6 for ‘Pasja’ and 3.8 for kale. There was no difference in leaf area indices among the P fertiliser treatments for ‘Pasja’, while kale LAI differed with the rate of P application up to 40 kg P/ha. Total accumulated intercepted solar radiation (RIcum) was 8 and 11% greater for ‘Pasja’ and kale crops respectively when P was applied compared with the control. Thus, the difference in total dry matter yield due to P application was attributed to the difference in RIcum. Neither the method of application or rate of P applied affected the radiation use efficiency (RUE) of either crop. For ‘Pasja’ the RUE was 1.1 g DM/MJ PAR and for kale 1.33 g DM/MJ PAR. Based on this research, it was concluded that P application increased RIcum as a result of increased LAI. The difference in total DM yield was attributed to differences in RIcum. It is recommended that farmers growing ‘Pasja’ and kale under similar conditions to this experiment should apply 40 kg P/ha for ‘Pasja’ and band 20 kg P/ha for kale. *‘Pasja’ is considered both as a species and cultivar in this document as it marketed as such in New Zealand. Technically ‘Pasja’ is a leaf turnip.