Plant protecting and regulating compositions – Plant growth regulating compositions – Plural active ingredients
Patent
1996-04-09
1997-11-11
Spivack, Phyllis G.
Plant protecting and regulating compositions
Plant growth regulating compositions
Plural active ingredients
504148, A01N 2502, A01N 3102
Patent
active
056863896
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the control of fire blight disease by inhibition of the growth of Erwinia amylovora (E. amylovora). More particularly, the invention relates to novel fire blight control agents which comprise 5-hydroxylysine or 1,4-diamino-2-butanone in concentrations effective to inhibit the growth of E. amylovora.
BACKGROUND
Fire blight is one of the longest known and most feared plant diseases (1). Originally only found in North America, it is now also established in Central and South America, Europe, the Middle East, and New Zealand and is expected to arrive on the Australian Continent in the near future (2,3). Fire blight affects many members of the Rosaceae, including all species of the Pomoideae, and is especially destructive to pear and apple (1). Since the 1970's, E. amylovora has been controlled in the U.S. mainly by the antibiotic streptomycin. However, this practice is known to select for antibiotic-resistant strains. Since resistance genes are freely shared between bacterial species, and streptomycin is also used for the treatment of bacterial infections such as tuberculosis in humans, this practice is cause for concern. In fact, many European countries do not allow the use of antibiotics in agriculture, and typically destroy their fire blighted trees. Streptomycin-resistance in E. amylovora is indeed spreading, especially in the western United States. The Eastern United States are not affected yet, possibly because of a different spraying regimen (4). In addition to human health concerns, the spread of streptomycin-resistant strains of E. amylovora presents a serious economic threat to apple and pear growers in the United States because of the lack of alternative control agents for fire blight. Terramycin-streptomycin combinations have been shown to delay streptomycin-resistance in laboratory trials (4). Biological control of fire blight with suitable epiphytic bacteria (5), for example Erwinia herbicola or Pseudomonas species (6,7), or with plant extracts (8) provides protection to some degree but not with the same efficacy as streptomycin. The search for alternative synthetic control agents therefore continues, especially in Europe and Japan (9). However, most of the current efforts to achieve control of fire blight follow a trial and error approach.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides novel, antibiotic free, apparently environmentally friendly, fire blight control agents. It is based on the discovery that 5-hydroxylysine and 1,4-diamino-2-butanone inhibit the growth of E. amylovora. Accordingly, one embodiment of the invention comprises formulations for application to Rosaceae plants infected or at risk of infection with fire blight which contain 5-hydroxylysine or 1,4-diamino-2-butanone in an amount effective to inhibit the growth of E. amylovora. The invention also includes fire blight control agents which comprise combinations of 5-hydroxylysine with 1,4-diamino-2-butanone and a combination of either or both of such compounds with streptomycin or other agents which inhibit the growth of E. amylovora. Another embodiment of the invention comprises epiphytic microorganisms which express 5-hydroxylysine or 1,4-diamino-2-butanone and the delivery of such microorganisms by spraying or by insects to the blossoms of Rosaceae plants to inhibit the growth of E. amylovora.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Plant pathologists use forecasting systems based on time of year, humidity, temperature and related parameters to predict fire blight risk (10). Evidence indicative of high fire blight danger conventionally triggers the initiation of spraying, usually with streptomycin. A novel fire blight control agent is urgently needed, however, because E. amylovora is becoming resistant to streptomycin and because the use of antibiotics in agriculture is precluded in several affected countries.
The novel, non-antibiotic, fire blight control agents provided by this invention contain 5-hydroxylysine or 1,4-diamino-2-butanone or a combination thereof in
REFERENCES:
Tschierske et al., Dechema Biotechnology Conf. (1992), 5 (Pt. B), 761-4.
City of Hope
Spivack Phyllis G.
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