Enhanced blackberry production using Pseudomonas fluorescens as elicitor

Abstract

et al.. Enhanced blackberry production using Pseudomonas fluorescens as elicitor. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, Springer Verlag/EDP Sciences/INRA, 2013, 33 (2), pp.Abstract This report shows for the first time the ability of Pseudomonas fluorescens N21.4 to trigger the secondary metabolism of blackberries, Rubus fruticosus, in the field. Blackberries are an excellent source of bioactive compounds as compared to other marketable berries. Biotic elicitation with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria has been proposed to improve biomass production and to trigger secondary metabolism. However, most reports that support this statement involve controlled, in-door experiments, not real field conditions under continuous environmental changes. Furthermore, most investigations are carried out using model plants. Strain P. fluorescens N21.4 has been able to trigger secondary metabolism of plant species. Therefore we studied P. fluorescens ability to increase blackberry fitness, fruit quality, and protection against natural pests under field conditions. P. fluorescens N21.4 was delivered in the root or shoot system of blackberry plants along its entire production period, evaluating fruit quality and yield. Our results show an average increase up to 800 g per plant in total production, directly related to the increase in flowering buds. Protection against Spodoptera littoralis in inoculated plants was similar to control plants, hence contributing to increase in yield. Fruits from inoculated plants showed significant increases of up to 3°Brix, total phenolics of up to 18 %, and flavonoids of up to 22 %. We conclude that P. fluorescens N21.4 enhances plant defense and fruit quality together with an increased productivity as compared to current management practices, already obtaining high yields with economic profit.

Transcriptomics, Targeted Metabolomics and Gene Expression of Blackberry Leaves and Fruits Indicate Flavonoid Metabolic Flux from Leaf to Red Fruit

“…Blackberry fruits are an important source of bioactive compounds, among which are flavonols, catechins, and anthocyanins (Garcia-Seco et al, 2013). These molecules have been reported to have beneficial effects to prevent metabolic syndrome at different levels such as cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes; hence, including blackberry on human diet is beneficial for health (Tavares et al, 2013; Feresin et al, 2016; Sarkar et al, 2016).…”

Biotic elicitation as a tool to improve strawberry and raspberry extract potential on metabolic syndrome‐related enzymes in vitro

“…It releases siderophores and chitinases, triggering defensive metabolisms in Solanum lycopersicum , Arabidopsis thaliana , and Glycine max . It also increases isoflavone content in G. max and fruit yield in blackberries …”

“…Previous studies in field conditions have shown that two bacterial strains, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Pseudomonas fluorescens , are able to trigger secondary metabolisms in different plants . The aim of this study was therefore twofold: (i) to evaluate the ability of these two strains to modulate the bioactive levels in strawberry and raspberry produced in counter season, and (ii) to demonstrate the positive effects of these extracts on blood glucose regulation, hypertension, and inflammatory processes, comparing winter and spring samples, indicative of adverse and favorable conditions, respectively.…”

“…[20][21][22] Previous studies in field conditions have shown that two bacterial strains, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Pseudomonas fluorescens, are able to trigger secondary metabolisms in different plants. 23,20 The aim of this study was therefore twofold: (i) to evaluate the ability of these two strains to modulate the bioactive levels in strawberry and raspberry produced in counter season, and (ii) to demonstrate the positive effects of these extracts on blood glucose regulation, hypertension, and inflammatory processes, comparing winter and spring samples, indicative of adverse and favorable conditions, respectively. To achieve this purpose we (i) determined antioxidant properties, and anthocyanin and other polyphenol content; (ii) determined the ability of berry fruit extracts to inhibit different enzymes related to these processes, such as the two major carbohydrate digestive enzymes, -glucosidase and -amylase (glucose regulation), the angiotensin converting enzyme ACE (hypertension), and COX-1&2 (inflammation).…”

Screening of suitable carriers for Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain QL-18 to enhance the biocontrol of tomato bacterial wilt

“…As the control of plant diseases using classical pesticides raises serious concerns about food safety, environmental effects and pesticide resistance, sustainable agricultural practices must involve the use of environmentally friendly alternatives for effective plant disease control. In addition to balanced fertilization (Abro et al, 2013;Dordas, 2008), soil biosolarization (Domínguez et al, 2014), and other agroecological practices (Wezel et al, 2014), biocontrol microbes (BMs) have increasingly been used to suppress phytopathogens for sustainable agriculture (Camprubí et al, 2007;García-Seco et al, 2013;Khaled et al, 2008;Ongena and Jacques, 2008;Weller, 2007). Although the inoculation of plants with BMs is now well established, the formulation of inocula with reliable and consistent effects under field conditions remains a bottleneck that limits industrial-scale applications of BMs.…”