Control of cyst nematodes by Lysobacter enzymogenes strain C3 and the role of the antibiotic HSAF in the biological control activity

Lysobacter enzymogenes C3, a bacterial biocontrol agent of fungal and oomycetous plant pathogens, produces an antimicrobial secondary metabolite complex (HSAF) as a mechanism for its antifungal activity. In this study, strain C3 was investigated for its activity against various life history stages of Heterodera schactii, the sugarbeet cyst nematode (SBCN), and H. glycines, the soybean cyst nematode (SCN), on roots. Strain C3 was applied to the roots of cabbage, sugarbeet, and soybean grown in growth pouches, sand, and a sand-soil medium, respectively, under growth chamber conditions. Cabbage and sugarbeet roots were subsequently challenged with SBCN, while soybean roots were inoculated with SCN. Treatment of sugarbeet with C3 reduced the number of SBCN nematodes in the roots compared to the no bacteria control, while treatment of cabbage roots with the bacterium reduced numbers of SBCN cysts and eggs per plant compared to the control. Similarly, application of C3 to soybean inhibited SCN egg production relative to the control. The findings demonstrated that the bacterium has the potential to suppress nematode feeding and reproduction in the rhizosphere. In addition, HSAF production by C3 was evaluated for its role in the interactions with SCN in the soybean rhizosphere. A mutant strain of C3 defective in the key HSAF biosynthesis gene, and thus blocked in HSAF production, lacked the suppressive effects exhibited by the wildtype strain on SCN reproduction. Thus, HSAF production was shown to be an important mechanism involved in the biocontrol activity of L. enzymogenes C3 against cyst nematodes.