Bacteria used in the biological control of plant-parasitic nematodes: populations, mechanisms ofaction, and future prospects

En el presente artículo de revisión se discuten los mecanismos que las bacterias nematofágicas utilizan como enemigos naturales de los nematodos. Como consecuencia de este control biológico, las plantas son protegidas del daño que los nematodos protagonizan.

FEMS Microbiol Ecol 61 (2007) 197?213 
Baoyu Tian, Jinkui Yang & Ke-Qin Zhang

As a group of important natural enemies of nematode pests, nematophagous bacteria exhibit diverse modes of action: these include parasitizing; producing toxins, antibiotics, or enzymes; competing for nutrients; inducing systemic resistance of plants; and promoting plant health. They act synergistically on nematodes through the direct suppression of nematodes, promoting plant growth, and facilitating the rhizosphere colonization and activity of microbial antagonists. This review details the nematophagous bacteria known to date, including parasitic bacteria, opportunistic parasitic bacteria, rhizobacteria, Cry protein-forming bacteria, endophytic bacteria and symbiotic bacteria. We focus on recent research developments concerning their pathogenic mechanisms at the biochemical and molecular levels. Increased understanding of the molecular basis of the various pathogenic mechanisms of the nematophagous bacteria could potentially enhance their value as effective biological control agents. We also review a number of molecular biological approaches currently used in the study of bacterial pathogenesis in nematodes. We discuss their merits, limitations and potential uses.