Elucidation of factors contributing to onset of Cercospora leaf blight during later reproductive development of soybean

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1-2021

Abstract

In Louisiana, Cercospora leaf blight (CLB) of soybean is primarily caused by Cercospora cf. flagellaris, which can be detected in asymptomatic leaves as early as V3 (third trifoliate) growth stage, while symptoms appear around R5 (beginning seed). The fungus produces cercosporin, an important virulence factor, the in vitro production of which is significantly reduced in the absence of simple sugars. Our objective was to investigate the role of foliar simple sugars and endophytic bacteria in CLB symptom onset. C. cf. flagellaris was cultured in filter-sterilized, untreated extracts made from asymptomatic R2 and R5 leaves; in extracts treated with chloroform to isolate hydrophilic molecules, including simple sugars; or with antibiotics to assess the role of endophytic bacteria. Endophytic bacteria were also isolated from leaves and leaf extracts and their interaction with C. cf. flagellaris was investigated. The fungus produced more cercosporin in total R5 and simple sugar-amended R2 leaf extracts, than in R2 leaf extracts. Furthermore, it produced more cercosporin in chloroform-treated R5 leaf extracts, which contained significantly higher levels of simple sugars, especially fructose, than the R2. To our knowledge, this is the first reported connection between foliar sugar content and cercosporin production. Additionally, morphologically diverse bacteria were isolated from different stages of soybean development. Also, bacterial endophytes in R5 leaf extracts and Paenibacillus polymyxa, isolated from R2 leaves, significantly reduced the growth of C. cf. flagellaris. These findings implicated soybean leaf fructose in CLB development and highlighted the potential of using foliar bacterial endophytes for CLB management.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Plant Pathology

First Page

2074

Last Page

2085

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