Biocontrol mechanism of Myxococcus fulvus B25-I-3 against Phytophthora infestans and its control efficiency on potato late blight

Phytophthora infestans is the pathogen of potato late blight, which is one of the most serious diseases of the potato. Myxobacteria, especially Myxococcus, become a valuable biological control resource due to their preponderant abilities to produce various secondary metabolites with novel structure and remarkable biological activity. In a previous study, Myxococcus fulvus B25-I-3 with antagonistic activity against P. infestans was isolated from an environmental sample by rabbit fecal induction method. The biocontrol mechanism of M. fulvus B25-I-3 against P. infestans and its control efficiency on potato late blight were studied. The results showed that the active substances produced by strain B25-I-3 had strong inhibitory effect on the asexual reproduction and sexual reproduction of P. infestans. In addition, the active substances could reduce the content of soluble proteins and the activity of the protective enzymes (polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase, phenylalanine ammonia lyase, superoxide dismutase) in P. infestans and increase the oxidative damage and permeability of cell membrane. And the active substances could inhibit the infection of the detached potato leaves by P. infestans significantly. In conclusion, M. fulvus B25-I-3 can produce active substances against P. infestans and has potential value to develop into biological pesticides for the control of potato late blight. The completion of this work may provide basic data for the isolation and identification of active substances and the development of pesticides against potato late blight.