Grapevine crown gall causes significant economic damage in vineyards and nurseries worldwide. Infected vines are not curable due to irreversible genomic transformation by the tumorigenic bacterium Rhizobium vitis. Crown gall results in a gradual decline in yield and vine vigor, then the complete collapse of the vine. R. vitis ARK-1, an antagonistic and non-tumorigenic strain, has been shown to inhibit gall formation when equal cell concentrations of antagonist and tumorigenic strains are co-inoculated in planta. In this study, we tested the efficacy of ARK-1 against higher cell numbers of tumorigenic isolates and evaluated timing and methods of ARK-1 application in in-planta assays in grapevine (Vitis vinifera 'Chardonnay', 'Cabernet Sauvignon', 'Merlot') and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum 'Beefsteak'). ARK-1 significantly (P ≤ 0.01) reduced gall incidence and gall diameter against four times higher tumorigenic bacterial cell numbers. Inoculation of ARK-1 up to 48 hours before or within 6 hours after inoculation with tumorigenic isolates significantly (P ≤ 0.01) reduced gall incidence and gall diameter. Root dipping of grapevine for 24 hours and tomato for 1 hour in the formulated ARK-1 suspension (Kumiai Chemical Industry Co. Ltd., Japan) prior to transplanting in tumorigenic bacteria-infested soil completely inhibited gall formation in the roots. These results are promising and support the development of ARK-1 as a biological control agent to manage grapevine crown gall. / Master of Science in Life Sciences / Grapevine crown gall is an economically significant disease in vineyards and nurseries worldwide. The pathogen of grapevine crown gall alters plant genome and causes tumor-like gall formation. Infected vines lose yield and vigor and eventually get killed. In this study, we tested the efficacy of a biological control agent called ARK-1. We challenged ARK-1 against higher cell numbers of pathogenic bacteria, evaluated timings, and practical methods of ARK-1 application. We conducted our greenhouse studies in grapevine (Vitis vinifera) cultivars 'Chardonnay', 'Cabernet Sauvignon', 'Merlot' and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) cultivar 'Beefsteak'. In efficacy test, ARK-1 was effective and reduced 68% gall incidence against a four times higher pathogenic bacteria mixture. In timing assay, the application of ARK-1 up to 48 hours before inoculation of pathogenic bacteria reduced gall formation by more than 95%. Also, ARK-1 was effective when it was applied within 6 hours after inoculation of pathogenic bacteria. Root soaking of grapevine and tomato in the formulated ARK-1 suspension (KUF-1511, Kumiai Chemical Industry Co. Ltd., Japan), prior to transplanting in pathogenic bacteria-infested soil, completely inhibited gall formation in the roots. The promising result of this study is a step forward towards use of ARK-1 as a biological control agent to manage grapevine crown gall disease.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/112691 |
| Date | 02 June 2021 |
| Creators | Nahiyan, Md Abdullah Al |
| Contributors | Plant Pathology, Physiology and Weed Science, Nita, Mizuho, Baudoin, Antonius B., Bush, Elizabeth Ann |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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