U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 close



Research
                Research Home
                            National Programs
                            Research Projects
                            Scientific Manuscripts
                            International Engagement
                            Scientific Software/Models
                            Databases and Datasets
                            Office of Scientific Quality Review
            Media
                News & Features
                            Multimedia
                            Briefing Room
                            Down on the Farm
                            Press Room
                            Science in Your Shopping Cart
                            Scientific Discoveries
                            Tellus
                            Under the Microscope
            About ARS
                About ARS Home
                            Staff Directory
                            Labs and Research Centers (Map)
                            Headquarter Offices
                            Organizational Chart
                            Employee Services (REE Employees Only)
                            Office of Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity
            Work With Us
                Work With Us Home
                            ARS Vacancies at USAJOBS
                            Careers at ARS Information
                            Scientific Collaborations
                            Extramural Agreements
                            1890 Faculty Research Sabbatical ProgramSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            Melnick, Rachelitem
                                            Bailey, Bryanitem
                                            BACKMAN, PAUL - Pennsylvania State University
  Submitted to: Biological Control
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 2/24/2011
                                    Publication  Date: 4/3/2011
                                    Citation: Melnick, R.L., Bailey, B.A., Backman, P.A. 2011. Isolation of endophytic endospore-forming bacteria from Theobroma cacao as potential biological control agents of cacao dieseases. Biological Control. 57:236-245.Interpretive Summary: Theobroma cacao (cacao), the source of cocoa, suffers from several major diseases resulting in severe reductions in yield in many production areas. Cocoa is combined with United States agricultural commodities providing a benefit to the American farmer. Chemical and cultural control measures for controlling cacao diseases are expensive to employ and are often ineffective.  Beneficial fungi (endophytes, microbes that live inside plants) that reduce cacao diseases have been identified in cacao, but the presence of beneficial bacteria in cacao has not been studied. We isolated and characterized a diverse set of beneficial bacteria from cacao. We identified beneficial bacterial that reduced disease when applied to cacao in growth chambers and in the field. This data suggest beneficial bacteria can be used to control cacao diseases as a part of a sustainable integrated pest management system. By providing cacao farmers with sustainable, inexpensive strategies for control of cacao diseases, cocoa supplies may be stabilized resulting in increased benefits to the cacao farmer, the cocoa industry, and the American farmer.
                                Technical Abstract: Endospore-forming bacterial endophytes were isolated from Theobroma cacao to access the present and diversity of endospore-forming bacteria in cacao. Cacao leaves, pods, branches, and flower cushions were removed from cacao trees escaping disease on INIAP’s Tropical Research Station in Pichilingue, Ecuador. Tissue was surface sterilized, heat treated (75°C for 15 min) and plated onto tryptic soy agar. Sixty nine distinct endophytic endospore-forming bacteria were isolated. The 16S rRNA gene was sequenced to determine species identity, then the isolates wee further classified for characteristics of biological control activity of chitinase production and antagonism. Sixteen isolates were chitinolytic. In antagonism studies against cacao pathogens, 42% were antagonistic to Moniliophthora roreri, 33% to M. perniciosa, and 49% to Phytophthora capsici. Twenty-five percent of isolates inhibited the growth of both Moniliophthora spp., while 22% of isolates inhibited the growth of all three pathogens. Isolates that were chitinolytic and tested negative on Bacillus cereus agar were tested in planta studies. All (14)isolates were capable of endophytic colonization, while 8 isolates inhibited lesion formation in response to P. capsici inoculation in detached leaf assays. This research illustrates both the presence of endophytic bacteria in cacao trees and their potential as biological control agents of cacao pathogens.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov