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Research article2015Peer reviewed

Transcriptional responses of the bacterial antagonist Serratia plymuthica to the fungal phytopathogen Rhizoctonia solani

Neupane, Saraswoti; Finlay, Roger; Alström, Sadhna; Elfstrand, Malin; Högberg, Nils

Abstract

Rhizobacteria with biocontrol ability exploit a range of mechanisms to compete successfully with other microorganisms and to ensure their growth and survival in the rhizosphere, ultimately promoting plant growth. The rhizobacterium Serratia plymuthicaAS13 is able to promote oilseed rape growth and improve seedling survival in the presence of the fungal pathogen, Rhizoctonia solaniAG 2-1; however, our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the antagonism of Serratia is limited. To elucidate possible mechanisms, genome-wide gene expression profiling of S.plymuthicaAS13 was carried out in the presence or absence of R.solani. We used RNA sequencing methodology to obtain a comprehensive overview of Serratia gene expression in response to R.solani. The differential gene expression profiles of S.plymuthicaAS13 revealed significantly increased expression of genes related to the biosynthesis of the antibiotic pyrrolnitrin (prnABCD), protease production and transporters. The results presented here provide evidence that antibiosis is a major functional mechanism underlying the antagonistic behaviour of S.plymuthicaAS13.

Published in

Environmental Microbiology Reports
2015, Volume: 7, number: 1, pages: 123-127
Publisher: WILEY-BLACKWELL