title: The symbiosis of Bacillus subtilis L-forms with Chinese cabbage seedlings inhibits conidial germination of Botrytis cinerea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish whether germination of Botrytis cinerea was affected by the symbiosis of Bacillus subtilis L-form bacteria with Chinese cabbage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Germinating seeds of Chinese cabbage were co-cultivated with either L-forms of Bacillus subtilis or 5% (w/v) mannitol by soaking for 3 h. Seeds were then washed in sterile water, sown on a minimal medium and incubated in controlled conditions. L-form symbiosis was detected over a time course by ELISA. Conidial germination of Botrytis cinerea was significantly reduced on cotyledonous leaves of L-form-treated plants compared with controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Symbiosis of B. subtilis L-form bacteria during seed germination of Chinese cabbage inhibits conidial germination in plants on subsequent exposure to Botrytis cinerea.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first account of plant symbiosis with L-form bacteria showing antagonism to a fungal plant pathogen. This has promising implications for the use of this L-form as a biocontrol agent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture & Forestry, University of Aberdeen, 581 King Street, Aberdeen, AB24 5UA, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: C M J
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Booth
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Allan
mesh_terms: D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000502:physiology*; D001937:Brassica / Q000382:microbiology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D018525:Germination; D007740:L Forms / Q000502:physiology*; D003904:Mitosporic Fungi / Q000254:growth & development*; D013559:Symbiosis