Inhibitory Effects of Acinetobacter sp. KTB3 on Infection of Tobacco mosaic virus in Tobacco Plants

During the screening of antiviral substances having inhibitory effects on Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) infection on tobacco plants, we found a bacterial isolate KTB3, and identified it as Acinetobacter sp. which strongly inhibited the infection of TMV When the culture filtrate from KTB3 was applied on the upper surface of the Xanthi-nc tobacco leaves at the same time, or 24 hours before TMV inoculation, almost complete inhibition was achieved. Likewise, 86% inhibition was achieved, when the culture filtrate was applied on the underside of the leaves. In field trials, transmission of TMV from diseased seedlings to healthy ones during transplanting work was reduced by 92%, when the culture filtrate was sprayed onto the tobacco seedlings, cv. NC82, 24 hours before transplanting. No toxic effect was observed on the tobacco plants. Antiviral substance from the culture filtrate was purified by ethanol precipitation, dialysis, DEAE-cellulose, and Sephadex G75 gel column chromatography. The partially purified active material which showed positive color reaction to sugar and protein inhibited TMV infection by 60% at 1 ${\mu}$g/ml.