Skip to main content
ARS Home » Northeast Area » Ithaca, New York » Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture & Health » Emerging Pests and Pathogens Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #418930

Research Project: Advancing Knowledge of the Biology and Etiology of Bacterial Plant Pathogens Towards Management Strategies

Location: Emerging Pests and Pathogens Research

Title: Efficacy of a synthentic antimicrobial peptide against bacterial plant pathogens

Author
item Karp, Mary Ann
item EKBATANIAMIRI, FATEMEH - Cornell University
item Filiatrault, Melanie

Submitted to: Plant Pathogenic Bacteria International Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/31/2024
Publication Date: 7/5/2024
Citation: Karp, M.A., Ekbataniamiri, F., Filiatrault, M.J. 2024. Efficacy of a synthentic antimicrobial peptide against bacterial plant pathogens. Plant Pathogenic Bacteria International Conference Proceedings. https://iobc-wprs.org/meeting/icppb-biocontrol-2024/.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The development of environmentally friendly methods of disease control are desired. Antimicrobial peptides have received considerable interest as promising alternatives to antibiotics and chemical pesticides and provide a promising strategy to combat bacterial plant pathogens. In this study we tested the antibacterial activity of a synthetic peptide against Dickeya, Erwinia, Pseudomonas, and Pectobacterium sp. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for the peptide were determined by broth dilution method. Of the strains we tested, the MIC for Dickeya, Pectobacterium, and Erwinia ranged from 40-60 ug/ml. Pseudomonas syringae was more sensitive to the peptide and had a MIC of 10 ug/ml. After 72 hrs., bacterial growth was observed for some of the species. To investigate if the population of bacteria that grew after 72 hrs. were resistant to the antimicrobial peptide, bacteria were retested. Retesting showed the bacteria were still sensitive to the peptide suggesting the action of the peptide is bacteriostatic. Our study revealed broad-spectrum efficacy of an AMP in suppressing in vitro growth of several plant pathogens. Studies are underway to investigate the mode of action of this antimicrobial peptide.