The ecological success of Burkholderia terrae BS001 and related strains in the mycosphere

PhD ceremony: Mr. R. Nazir, 11.00 uur, Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen

Dissertation: The ecological success of Burkholderia terrae BS001 and related strains in the mycosphere

Promotor(s): prof. J.D. van Elsas

Faculty: Mathematics and Natural Sciences

Rashid Nazir investigated the interactions between bacteria and fungi in soil. He found that: The presence of soil fungi exerts a significant effect on the bacterial community in any soil, so this biological factor is a strong determinant of local bacterial communities. Members of the genus Burkholderia outcompete other bacteria and are preferentially selected in the mycosphere. Some Burkholderia species have adapted themselves to a life with soil fungi; one remarkable capacity was the ability to migrate along growing fungal hyphae. Burkholderia terrae BS001 protects its fungal host against living antagonists as well as against fungicides.

Burkholderia terrae BS001 has a prominent effect on the physiology of the soil fungus Lyophyllum sp. strain Karsten, exhibiting different phenotypes. This bacterium induces glycerol release by the fungus and hinders mushroom formation. Burkholderia terrae BS001 contains 11.5 Mb genome that is one of the biggest one reported till now.

The bacterium B. terrae BS001 and counterpart soil fungi, represent valuable future assets for antibiotics, industrial, environmental as well as for basic scientific landmark potential purposes. The results of Nazir may indicate the future directions for betterment of science as well as for applied areas of Organic agriculture, especially in Bio-Control and applied antibiosis.