VIEW ARTICLE

Physiology and Biochemistry

Responses of Bean to Root Colonization With Pseudomonas putida in a Hydroponic System. Anne J. Anderson, Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan 84322; Daniel Guerra, Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan 84322, Present address: USDA-ARS, Northern Regional Center, 1815 N. University, Peoria, IL 61604. Phytopathology 75:992-995. Accepted for publication 1 April 1985. Copyright 1985 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-75-992.

Colonization of bean roots by Pseudomonas putida was maintained at 0.6- 1.8 x 10⁵ colony-forming units per gram of root tissue during growth for 18 days under hydroponic culture involving complete as well as iron-and boron-deficient media. Leaves from 18-day-old transplants colonized by P. putida had reduced iron contents compared with uninoculated seedlings, and roots had 17- 93% higher lignin contents than did uninoculated seedlings. Plants with roots colonized by P. putida gained more weight after inoculation with Fusarium solani f. sp. phaseoli compared with plants grown without P. putida. In plants inoculated with both P. putida and Fusarium, foliar wilting and onset of lesion formation were delayed by 2- 3 days. Colonization by P. putida decreased the amount of lignin normally generated at the lesioned root-shoot interface in plants infected by Fusarium. These data suggest that P. putida may afford some protection against F. solani in the early stage of disease development. Protection may involve alteration of the plant's defense potential through an increase in lignin in the root tissues.