The Role of Serratomolide-like Amino Lipids Produced by Bacteria of Genus Serratia in Nematicidal Activity

Abstract

Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, also known as pinewood nematode (PWN), is the pathogenic agent of pine wilt disease (PWD), which affects pine trees around the world. Infection spread globally through international wood commerce and locally by vector beetles, threatening the wood world economy. As climate changes, more countries are becoming susceptible to PWD and, to prevent disease spread and limit economic and ecological losses, better knowledge about this pathogenic agent is needed. Serratia strains, present in the endophytic community of pine trees and carried by PWN, may play an important role in PWD. This work aimed to better understand the interaction between Serratia strains and B. xylophilus and to assess the nematicidal potential of serratomolide-like molecules produced by Serratia strains. Serrawettin gene presence was evaluated in selected Serratia strains. Mortality tests were performed with bacteria supernatants, and extracted amino lipids, against Caenorhabditis elegans (model organism) and B. xylophilus to determine their nematicidal potential. Attraction tests were performed with C. elegans. Concentrated supernatants of Serratia strains with serratamolide-like lipopeptides were able to kill more than 77% of B. xylophilus after 72 h. Eight specific amino lipids showed a high nematicidal activity against B. xylophilus. We conclude that, for some Serratia strains, their supernatants and specific amino lipids showed nematicidal activity against B. xylophilus.

Biological Control of Phytopathogens: Mechanisms and Applications

“…Marques-Pereira et al (2022) studied the role of serratamolide-like amino lipids in the Serratia–B. xylophilus interaction and also researched Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism [ 6 ]. The insights these studies provide will lead to a deeper understanding of the different biocontrol mechanisms of a wide variety of phytopathogens and open new possibilities for targeted and more effective applications.…”

“…Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism [6]. The insights these studies provide will lead to a deeper understanding of the different biocontrol mechanisms of a wide variety of phytopathogens and open new possibilities for targeted and more effective applications.…”

The Changes of Microbial Communities and Key Metabolites after Early Bursaphelenchus xylophilus Invasion of Pinus massoniana

“…The bacteria carried by nematodes exist as long-term co-evolved symbionts and are not accidentally contaminated; for example, the highly pathogenic Pseudomonas fluorescens GcM5-1A and Pseudomonas putida ZpB1-2A can significantly increase the fecundity, reproduction rate, and size of B. xylophilus [ 14 ]. In contrast, some microbes protect pines from PWDs such as Esteya [ 15 ], Serratia [ 16 ], and Trichoderma [ 17 ]. Although Pinus massoniana is widely distributed in central and southern China [ 18 , 19 ], the microbial community after B. xylophilus infection has not been well studied, especially its fungal community.…”