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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #162592
Title: METABOLIC ACTIVITY OF ENTEROBACTER CLOACAE IN CUCUMBER AND PEA SPERMOSPHERE

Author
item Roberts, Daniel
item Buyer, Jeffrey
item Baker, Con

Submitted to: American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2004
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: In situ bioluminescence experiments and in vitro oxygen consumption experiments with Enterobacter cloacae 501R3 on cucumber and pea seed were conducted to determine the influence of host seed on metabolic activity by this bacterium in the spermosphere. Total metabolic activity per population of 501R3 and average metabolic activity per cell of 501R3 was significantly greater in pea spermosphere than in cucumber spermosphere. Pea seed releases orders of magnitude more carbohydrate and amino acid compounds than cucumber seed during the first few days of germination. These compounds supported high rates of metabolic activity by 501R3 in in vitro experiments. In vitro oxygen consumption experiments on cucumber and pea seed exudate and in situ bioluminescence experiments with metabolic mutants of 501R3, and with exogenous addition of reduced carbon compounds, confirmed that qualitative and quantitative differences in exudation by the host seed influence metabolic activity by E. cloacae in the spermosphere.