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common name: none
scientific name: Pasteuria penetrans (Bacilli: Bacillales: Pasteuriaceae)

Introduction - Distribution - Description - Life Cycle and Biology - Hosts - Economic Importance - Management - Selected References

Introduction (Back to Top)

Biological control agents of plant-parasitic nematodes are typically very specific natural enemies of the target plant pest nematodes. When commercialized, growers can use these natural agents in the soil around their crop plants to limit the damage caused by harmful plant-parasitic nematodes. One of the best studied biological controls of nematodes is a bacterium in the genus Pasteuria (Figure 1). Pasteuria penetrans is an obligate parasite of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.). Pasteuria penetrans is an endospore-forming bacterium that persists in the soil until a suitable nematode host encounters the spore. The Pasteuria spores adhere to the nematode cuticle (outer surface), infect the nematode and develop inside of the nematode body.

endospores

Figure 1. Endospores of Pasteuria penetrans. Photograph by Weiming Hu, University of Florida.

The growth of Pasteuria spp. inhibits the nematode from producing eggs. It is this disruption of nematode fertility that makes Pasteuria spp. such a promising biological control agent for root-knot nematode. Another species of Pasteuria (Pasteuria nishizawae) infects Heterodera glycines (soybean cyst nematode) and is commercially available for growers in the Americas and Europe. One EPA report states that Pasteuria species are present in 80 countries on at least five continents (2012). Traditionally, a new isolate of bacteria was named when it could be cultured in a lab. However, with modern genomic technology, taxonomic characterization of unique bacterial isolates allows for the identification of different Pasteuria spp. without the need for cultures. This is important as Pasteuria is an obligate parasite and therefore cannot be grown outside of its host using traditional bacteria culturing techniques. This has previously limited the ability to identify and characterize more Pasteuria spp. despite this bacterium's wide distribution.

Distribution (Back to Top)

Distinct species of Pasteuria associate with different genera of nematodes have been identified world-wide. For every plant-parasitic nematode there is potentially a specific and adapted isolate of Pasteuria. Root-knot nematodes have a very wide host range which includes most economically important crops produced world-wide. Pasteuria penetrans has been reported from, North America (Noel 1994), India (Mohan 2012), Senegal (Bekal et al. 2001), the United Kingdom (Davies et al. 2011) and Iraq (Fattah et al. 1989). There are likely many more isolates of Pasteuria spp. in more locations that are yet to be characterized.

Description (Back to Top)

Pasteuria spp. are most recognizableas themature endospore form (Figure 1). This life stage of the bacteria is used to establish ultrastructure (measurements of key features using high resolution microscopic images) and novel characteristics unique to each species of Pasteuria spp. Endospores of Pasteuria penetrans are about 3 µm in diameter and 1.8 µm in height (Chen et al. 1997). The endospores are visible as they stick to the cuticle (outer surface) of the nematode (Figure 2). As the nematode starts to feed on plant root tissues, the endospores penetrate the nematode cuticle, germinate and form microcolonies within the nematode’s body. These microcolonies vary in size but are popcorn-shaped and eventually mature into thalli, sporogonium, and finally mature endospores which are dispersed into the soil, ready to infect other root-knot nematodes.

Meloidogyne arenaria nematode with Pasteuria penetrans endospores adhering to its cuticle.

Figure 2. Meloidogyne arenaria nematode with Pasteuria penetrans endospores adhering to its cuticle. Photograph by Ruhiyyih Dyrdahl-Young, University of Florida.

Life Cycle and Biology (Back to Top)

Pasteuria endospores persist in the soil until a suitable host nematode comes into physical contact with the bacterium. Once the nematode begins to feed on the root tissue, the endospore germinates and grows in the body of the infected nematode. The infection process starts when a Pasteuria endospore adheres to the cuticle (outside covering) of the nematode (Figure 2). Next, after the nematode penetrates a host plant’s roots and feeds on inner root tissues, the endospore develops a germination tube. This tube pierces through the cuticle of the nematode and begins to form mycelial-like (popcorn-shaped) balls in the ovarian tissue of the nematode. These mycelial-like balls (Figure 3) are the first of several structures that Pasteuria forms during sporulation.

Mycelial-like structures of Pasteuria penetrans, image taken from the body contents of an infected Meloidogyne arenaria nematode. Image taken 15 days after exposure to Pasturia penetrans.

Figure 3. Mycelial-like structures of Pasteuria penetrans, image taken from the body contents of an infected Meloidogyne arenaria nematode. Image taken 15 days after exposure to Pasteuria penetrans. Photograph by Ruhiyyih Dyrdahl-Young, University of Florida.

As the bacterium develops, the mycelial-like balls mature into thalli (Figure 4), sporogonium (Figure 5), and eventually more mature endospores (Figure 6). The ovarian tissue and body of the nematode fills with endospores which replace nematode eggs (Figure 7). A healthy root-knot nematode can lay up to as many as 1,000 eggs in the soil. A root-knot nematode infected with Pasteuria penetrans does not lay any viable eggs. This could cause the nematode population to decrease dramatically in a field with high populations of Pasteuria endospores and benefit the current crop as well as future plantings through population suppression.

Thali structure of Pasteuria penetrans taken from inside an infected root-knot nematode, 20 days after exposure to endospores.

Figure 4. Thalli structure of Pasteuria penetrans taken from inside an infected root-knot nematode, 20 days after exposure to endospores. Photograph by Ruhiyyih Dyrdahl-Young, University of Florida.

Sporogonium of Pasteuria penetrans taken 30 days after root-knot nematode exposure to Pasteuria penetrans endospores. Photograph by Ruhiyyih Dyrdahl-Young, University of Florida.

Figure 5. Sporogonium of Pasteuria penetrans taken 30 days after root-knot nematode exposure to Pasteuria penetrans endospores. Photograph by Ruhiyyih Dyrdahl-Young, University of Florida.

Mature Pasteuria endospores. Photograph by Weiming Hu, University of Florida.

Figure 6. Mature Pasteuria endospores. Photograph by Weiming Hu, University of Florida.

Pasteuria penetrans infected ovarian tissue of Meloidogyne arenaria. Image taken 30 days after exposure to Pasteuria penetrans. Photograph by Ruhiyyih Dyrdahl-Young, University of Florida.

Figure 7. Pasteuria penetrans infected ovarian tissue of Meloidogyne arenaria. Image taken 30 days after exposure to Pasteuria penetrans. Photograph by Ruhiyyih Dyrdahl-Young, University of Florida.

Hosts (Back to Top)

Pasteuria has a specific and limited host range which does not include humans, or other soil organisms (like insects, mites and earth worms). There are five species of Pasteuria that infect plant-parasitic nematodes. They are most easily distinguished from one another by their host range. These include: Pasteuria thorneii that infect Pratylenchus spp. (lesion nematode) (Starr and Sayre 1988), ‘Candidatus Pasteuria usgae’ a parasite of Belonolaimus spp. (sting nematode) (Giblin-Davis 2003), Pasteuria nishizawae that is a parasite of Heterodera glycines (soybean cyst nematode) (Atibalentja et al. 2004), Pasteuria hartismeri parasitic to Meloidogyne ardenensis (root-knot nematode), and Pasteuria penetrans that attacks Meloidogyne spp. (root-knot nematode) (Bishop et al. 2007).

Economic Importance (Back to Top)

The economic impacts of Pasteuria penetrans are difficult to estimate, as there are no commercial products containing these endospores. At the time of publication, there is one commercially available Pasteuria-based nematode control. This product contains Pasteuria nishizawae endospores in a soybean seed coat. According to the manufacturer, the Pasteuria nishizawae seed coat can increase yields 2.7 bushels per acre higher (and as much as 10 bushels/acre) than seeds coated with insecticide/fungicide alone (Syngenta). In June 2018, the soybean price per bushel was $9.55 and the average yield in Florida was 60 bushels/acre. In Florida in 2018 there were 14,000 acres of soybeans harvested. At the current price of soybeans, a yield increase of 2.7 to 10 bushels/acre would translate into a $361,000 to $1.3 million increase in profits in Florida. Root-knot nematodes are one of the world’s most devastating plant-parasites. The root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita, has a host range that is estimated to include over 2,000 plants including virtually all economically important Florida crops. One conservative estimate of global crop loss caused by root-knot nematode is 5% (Sasser and Sarter 1985). Pasteuria penetrans would potentially have a great economic impact if successfully deployed as a biological control agent.

Management (Back to Top)

At present, management recommendations of root-knot nematodes using Pasteuria penetrans are premature. There are studies in micro-plots that suggest adding Pasteuria penetrans endospores (at a rate of 100,000/g soil) will suppress the growth of root-knot nematode populations. In one Florida field where a continuous peanut crop was established, the Pasteuria penetrans endospores significantly reduced the population of infective juvenile root-knot nematodes (Chen et al. 1996).

Selected References (Back to Top)

Authors: Ruhiyyih Dyrdahl-Young and Peter DiGennaro, University of Florida
Photographs: Ruhiyyih Dyrdahl-Young and Weiming Hu, University of Florida
Web Design: Kay Weigel
Publication Number: EENY-718
Publication Date: September 2018

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