Inhibition action mechanism of Enantio-pyochelin on X. citri causal of canker disease in lemon

MICHAVILA G1; ADLER C1; CARAM DI SANTO MC1; LAMI MJ1; COSTA GUTIERREZ SB1; VINCENT PA1 AND DE CRISTOBAL RE1

Rosario

Congreso; 50th Annual Meeting Argentine Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; 2014

Sociedad Argentina de Investigacion en Bioquimica y Biologia Molecular

Bacteria able to inhibit Xanthomonas citri subsp citri, causal agent of canker disease in lemon, were isolated from citrus leaf surfaces. Our study was focused in one isolate which showed a remarkable inhibition activity. We studied biochemical markers associated with growth promotion i.e. siderophore production and synthesis of indole acetic acid (IAA). The strain was characterized as Pseudomonas fluorescens after sequencing its 16S rRNA. The active compound was purified and identified as enantio-pyochelin (E-Pch). In an attempt to identify the action mechanism of E-Pch, we evaluated the ability of E-Pch to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) in X. citri subsp. citri and the correlation with its inhibitory activity. In fact, we observed increased ROS levels when E-Pch was added. In addition, the reducer agent ascorbic acid, lowered ROS levels and the antibiotic activity, implying that inhibition is probably caused by oxidative stress. We studied the biofilm formation of P. fluorescens on the surface of lemon leaves. Finally, we assayed the use of E-Pch in a model of canker disease in Limoneira 8A. We observed that E-Pch reduced canker formation while ascorbic acid addition reversed its effect. Our results showed E-Pch as a promising compound for citrus canker biocontrol and demonstrated that its mechanism of action in vivo and in vitro is by ROS increment.