Desorption Electrospray Ionization-Mass Spectrometry Imaging Provides Spatiochemical Information on Potential Biocontrol Agents against Phytophthora capsici Infection in Tomato Plants.
Robinson JY, Shepard HS, Ambachew D, Eyegheleme PJ, May JC
Biocontrol
The same Phytophthora family that caused the Irish Potato Famine is still destroying tomato crops today — and friendly soil bacteria you can buy as biopesticides may be a safer, spray-free way to keep it out of your vegetable garden.
Scientists tested four types of Bacillus bacteria — the same genus used in many organic garden products — to see which ones could protect tomato plants from a water mold pathogen that wipes out peppers, tomatoes, and squash worldwide. Two of them, especially one already familiar to organic gardeners, not only stopped the pathogen but also caused tomato plants to grow nearly twice as tall and develop much longer roots. The team then used a high-tech chemical camera to watch exactly which molecules the bacteria release to fight the pathogen, giving researchers a roadmap for developing better biological pest controls.
Key Findings
Bacillus thuringiensis-treated tomato plants exposed to Phytophthora capsici showed a 94.4% increase in root length and 74.0% increase in shoot height compared to pathogen-only plants
Two of four Bacillus species (B. thuringiensis and B. subtilis) were effective both in lab dishes and in live greenhouse plants, while the other two only worked in lab conditions
Chemical imaging (DESI-MSI) identified seven distinct molecular interaction zones between B. thuringiensis and P. capsici in dual culture, mapping the biochemical battlefield for the first time
chevron_right Technical Summary
Certain beneficial soil bacteria — particularly Bacillus thuringiensis — can protect tomato plants from a devastating fungal-like pathogen called Phytophthora capsici, dramatically boosting root and shoot growth while reducing disease. Researchers used advanced chemical imaging to map exactly how these bacteria fight the pathogen at a molecular level.
Abstract Preview
Biological control agents can offer an eco-friendly and more sustainable alternative to conventional chemical pesticides, providing protection against destructive pathogens, such as Phytophthora ca...
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