title: Control of Zymoseptoria tritici cause of septoria tritici blotch of wheat using antifungal Lactobacillus strains.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study explored an effective biological control agent based on lactic acid bacteria culture or culture supernatant, which was effective against fungicide-resistant Zymoseptoria tritici, which causes septoria tritici blotch (STB).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three lactic acid bacteria strains which exhibited broad antifungal activity were investigated for their potential to control Z. tritici. Plate assays, liquid culture growth inhibition assays and STB biocontrol seedling tests were employed. Lactobacillus brevis JJ2P and Lactobacillus reuteri R2 caused significant fungal inhibition as observed by large mycelium clearing on modified MRS agar. Cell-free culture supernatants of Lact. brevis JJ2P and Lact. reuteri R2 showed antifungal activity against Z. tritici, as observed by mycelial radial growth inhibition and liquid culture growth inhibition. Cell-free supernatants of these anti-Z. tritici LAB strains were assessed in vivo for their abilities to inhibit STB development in seedling tests. Lact. brevis JJ2P was capable of inhibiting disease development and significantly reduced the diseased leaf area covered with pycnidia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Biological control accomplished by beneficial micro-organisms such as Lact. brevis JJ2P may represent an alternative control strategy for reducing STB.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Globally, STB is regarded as one of the most important diseases of wheat. Control of Z. tritici is heavily reliant on fungicide application. The recent emergence of resistance or reduced sensitivity to fungicides among Z. tritici populations has urgently called for the development of new control strategies.
authors.affiliation: School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.affiliation: School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zannini
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology, Bishopstown, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Axel
authors.affiliation: School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Arendt
authors.affiliation: Crop Science Department, Teagasc Crops Environment and Land Use Programme, Carlow, Ireland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kildea
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology, Bishopstown, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coffey
mesh_terms: D000898:Antibiosis; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial / Q000494:pharmacology; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000502:physiology*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000382:microbiology; D014908:Triticum / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D005659:Fungicides, Industrial
keywords: Lactobacillus brevis; Zymoseptoria tritici; antifungal; cell-free supernatant; lactic acid bacteria; septoria tritici blotch