EFFICACY OF PHLOXINE-B AS A BACTERICIDAL AGENT IN PLANTS

Agrobacterium tumefaciens cells were killed upon illumination when tre ated with submicromolar concentrations of phloxine B. Phloxine B could be distributed systemically through a plant by amending the water sup ply or delivered directly to specific locations through topical applic ations in 0.1% adjuvant (Kinetic HV). Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L. ), jimsonweed (Datura stramonium L.), and soybean (Glycine max L.) wer e infected with A. tumefaciens to establish a marker for a systemic pa thogenic bacteria. There was a >90% reduction in the plants' populatio n of A. tumefaciens when watered daily with a 1 micromolar phloxine B solution. Furthermore, the plants treated with phloxine B were asympto matic to the pathogenic challenge. Leaf tissue, collected from basil a nd soybean, also expressed a reduction in the population of A. tumefac iens by >90% when treated under greenhouse conditions for 24 h with 10 mu M phloxine B in 0.1% Kinetic HV. The possible use of phloxine B as an agent to control bacterial diseases in plants is suggested.