A predatory myxobacterium controls cucumber Fusarium wilt by regulating the soil microbial community
Xianfeng Ye,
Zhoukun Li,
Xue Luo,
Wenhui Wang,
Yongkai Li,
Rui Li,
Bo Zhang,
Yan Qiao,
Jie Zhou,
Jiaqin Fan,
Hui Wang,
Yan Huang,
Hui Cao,
Zhongli Cui,
Ruifu Zhang
Affiliations
Xianfeng Ye
Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Life Science of Nanjing Agricultural University
Zhoukun Li
Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Life Science of Nanjing Agricultural University
Xue Luo
Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Life Science of Nanjing Agricultural University
Wenhui Wang
Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yongkai Li
Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Life Science of Nanjing Agricultural University
Rui Li
Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Life Science of Nanjing Agricultural University
Bo Zhang
Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Life Science of Nanjing Agricultural University
Yan Qiao
Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Life Science of Nanjing Agricultural University
Jie Zhou
Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Life Science of Nanjing Agricultural University
Jiaqin Fan
Key Laboratory of Monitoring and Management of Plant Diseases and Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University
Hui Wang
Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yan Huang
Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Life Science of Nanjing Agricultural University
Hui Cao
Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Life Science of Nanjing Agricultural University
Zhongli Cui
Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Life Science of Nanjing Agricultural University
Ruifu Zhang
Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources Collection and Preservation, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Abstract Background Myxobacteria are micropredators in the soil ecosystem with the capacity to move and feed cooperatively. Some myxobacterial strains have been used to control soil-borne fungal phytopathogens. However, interactions among myxobacteria, plant pathogens, and the soil microbiome are largely unexplored. In this study, we aimed to investigate the behaviors of the myxobacterium Corallococcus sp. strain EGB in the soil and its effect on the soil microbiome after inoculation for controlling cucumber Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum (FOC). Results A greenhouse and a 2-year field experiment demonstrated that the solid-state fermented strain EGB significantly reduced the cucumber Fusarium wilt by 79.6% (greenhouse), 66.0% (2015, field), and 53.9% (2016, field). Strain EGB adapted to the soil environment well and decreased the abundance of soil-borne FOC efficiently. Spatiotemporal analysis of the soil microbial community showed that strain EGB migrated towards the roots and root exudates of the cucumber plants via chemotaxis. Cooccurrence network analysis of the soil microbiome indicated a decreased modularity and community number but an increased connection number per node after the application of strain EGB. Several predatory bacteria, such as Lysobacter, Microvirga, and Cupriavidus, appearing as hubs or indicators, showed intensive connections with other bacteria. Conclusion The predatory myxobacterium Corallococcus sp. strain EGB controlled cucumber Fusarium wilt by migrating to the plant root and regulating the soil microbial community. This strain has the potential to be developed as a novel biological control agent of soil-borne Fusarium wilt. Video abstract.
