Promotion of resistance of black alder clones (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.) against Phytophthora alni ssp. alni by cyclolipopeptide producing bacteria

This study demonstrated the promotion of the ability of black alder clones to resist to Phytophthora alni ssp. alni with the cyclolipopeptide (CLP)-producing Pseudomonas veronii isolate PAZ1. The bacterial strain, isolated from an association with P. alni ssp. alni, and characterised by its production of the secondary metabolites viscosin and massetolides, possessed inhibitory ability against isolates of the oomycete tree pathogen in vitro. In plant experiments with alder clones in vitro, the treatment with living bacteria showed an earlier start of the rooting process and a promoted root and shoot growth. Compared to non-treated plants, the root system was improved by longer primary roots with abundant secondary roots. The treatment with a methanol extract prepared from strain PAZ1 had no comparable effect. After protective application of strain PAZ1 14 days before the pathogen, the disease incidence was lower and biomass production was higher than in the pathogen control. These results were completed by a greenhouse experiment for a period of 13 months. Bacteria application prior to the pathogen led to reduced Phytophthora incidence at two of five clones in the combined treatment.