Agar composition affects in vitro screening of biocontrol activity of antagonistic microorganisms

L Bosmans; I De Bruijn; R De Mot; H Rediers; B Lievens

doi:10.1016/j.mimet.2016.05.004

Agar composition affects in vitro screening of biocontrol activity of antagonistic microorganisms

J Microbiol Methods. 2016 Aug:127:7-9. doi: 10.1016/j.mimet.2016.05.004. Epub 2016 May 7.

Authors

L Bosmans¹, I De Bruijn², R De Mot³, H Rediers¹, B Lievens⁴

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory for Process Microbial Ecology and Bioinspirational Management (PME&BIM), Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems (M(2)S), KU Leuven, Campus De Nayer, B-2860 Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium.
² Department of Microbial Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands.
³ Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, M(2)S, KU Leuven, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium.
⁴ Laboratory for Process Microbial Ecology and Bioinspirational Management (PME&BIM), Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems (M(2)S), KU Leuven, Campus De Nayer, B-2860 Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium. Electronic address: bart.lievens@kuleuven.be.

PMID: 27166668
DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2016.05.004

Abstract

Agar-based screening assays are the method of choice when evaluating antagonistic potential of bacterial biocontrol-candidates against pathogens. We showed that when using the same medium, but different agar compositions, the activity of a bacterial antagonist against Agrobacterium was strongly affected. Consequently, results from in vitro screenings should be interpreted cautiously.

Keywords: Agar composition; Agar in vitro screening; Biocontrol activity.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Agar / chemistry*
Antibiosis*
Bacteriological Techniques / methods*
Plant Diseases / microbiology
Plant Diseases / prevention & control*
Plant Roots / microbiology

Substances

Agar