Effect of GlycinecinA on the Control of Bacterial Leaf Spot of Red Pepper and Bacterial Leaf Blight of Rice

Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. glycines 8ra produces a bacteriocin called glycinecinA, which specifically inhibits the growth of bacteria belonging to Xanthomonas species. GlycinecinA was produced by culturing Escherichia coli DH5 containing biosynthetic genes for glycinecinA, and was tested for its control effect against X. vesicatoria on red pepper and X. oryzae pv. oryzae on rice. The bacteriocin activity was much higher in the cell extract than in the supernatant. It reached a maximum level at the stationary phase, ws maintained up to 2 months at room temperature and approximately 10 months at $4^{\circ}$. The optimum concentration of glycinecinA for the control in the greenhouse and in the field was 12,800 AU/ml. In this study, the activity of glycinecinA on rice and red pepper leaves continued for 7-8 days, during which the pathogen populations remained at low levels. Bacterial leaf spot of red pepper and bacterial leaf blight of rice were significantly reduced by the bacteriocin treatments. The control efficacy was as high as, or even higher than, the chemical treatment of copper hydroxide. These results suggest that the bacteriocin is a potential control agent for bacterial diseases.