Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Crop Bioprotection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #399129
Research Project: Develop an Improved Understanding of Microbe-pathogen Interactions for Biological Control

Location: Crop Bioprotection Research

Title: Identification of 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol production in the genus Chromobacterium

Author
item Johnson, Eric
item Bowman, Michael
item GOMES, RAYLANE - Federal University Of Goias
item CARNEIRO, LILIAN - Federal University Of Goias
item Dunlap, Christopher

Submitted to: Journal of Applied Microbiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/23/2023
Publication Date: 8/31/2023
Citation: Johnson, E.T., Bowman, M.J., Gomes, R.P., Carneiro, L.C., Dunlap, C.A. 2023. Identification of 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol production in the genus Chromobacterium. Journal of Applied Microbiology. 13. Article 14292. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-41277-0.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-41277-0

Interpretive Summary: The discovery of new sources of compounds to control plant pathogens is needed to control new or resistant plant pathogens. In this research, we report that a broad-spectrum antibiotic (2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol), which has previously been shown to be useful in controlling plant diseases, is produced by a bacterium, called Chromobacterium vaccinii. In addition, we show that this bacterium produces two other compounds with known antimicrobial and insecticidal activity. The ability to produce these compounds suggest strains of this species of bacteria should be further explored for biocontrol applications of plant disease and pest insects. These results will allow us to better understand how this species of bacteria can control crop pests, which can lead to new crop protection products.

Technical Abstract: The compound 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (DAPG) is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is primarily produced by Pseudomonas spp. DAPG plays an important role in the biocontrol disease suppressing activity of Pseudomonas spp. In the current study, we report the discovery of the DAPG biosynthetic cluster in strains of Chromobacterium vaccinii isolated from Brazilian aquatic environments and the distribution of the biosynthetic cluster in the Chromobacterium genus. Phylogenetic analysis of the phiD gene suggests the biosynthetic cluster probably entered the genus of Chromobacterium after a horizontal gene transfer event with a member of the Pseudomonas fluorescens group. We were able to detect trace amounts of DAPG in wild type cultures and confirm the function of the cluster with heterologous expression in Escherichia coli. In addition, we identified and verified the presence of other secondary metabolites in these strains. We also confirmed ability of C. vaccinii strains to produce bioactive pigment violacein and bioactive cyclic depsipeptide FR900359. Both of these compounds have been reported to have antimicrobial and insecticidal activities. These compounds suggest strains of C. vaccinii should be further explored for their potential as biocontrol agents.