A light and electron microscope study of the interaction of soil bacteria with Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands

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Abstract
The bacteria became associated with the hyphae and asexual reproductive structures of P. cinnamomi [a root pathogen] in soil. In suppressive soils this association is apparently correlated with hyphal lysis, inhibition of zoospore production and sporangial breakdown. One notable feature of the microbial association between P. cinnamomi and soil bacteria is the formation of extensive slime material. Many of the bacterial isolated from the fungal hyphosphere display antagonism to the growth of P. cinnamomi in vitro. The bacteria are morphologically varied and include Pseudomonas, Bacillus and Streptomyces spp. The appropriate manipulation of the antagonistic bacteria might provide a means of biological control of P. cinnamomi.