Bacterial chemotaxis to fungal propagules in vitro and in soil

Abstract

Erwinia herbicola, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and P. putida were strongly attracted in vitro to substances exuded by conidia of Cochliobolus victoriae and sclerotia of Macrophomina phaseolina, but not to phosphate buffer solution. Numbers of bacteria attracted to propagules of C. victoriae or M. phaseolina in an unsterilized sandy loam soil were significantly (P = 0.05) greater than background populations occurring in soil saturated with buffer. Chemotactic response was greater to C. victoriae than to M. phaseolina both in vitro and in soil. Results suggest that living fungal propagules may act as attractants for motile bacteria in soil.