• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.109-117
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• 1992

Chemotactic responses of five motile saprophytic and one phytopathogenic bacteria e.g. Agrobacterium radiobacter, Bacillus subtilis, B. polymyxa, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P. fluorescens and Xanthomonas malvacearum towards exudate of Cochliobolus sativus conidia, Fusarium of oxysporum f. sp. ciceri chlamydospores, Macrophomina phaseolina sclerotia and Phytophthora drechsleri f. sp. cajani oospores were determined in vitro at different abiotic conditions. In general, a positive correlation (r=0.76 to 0.89; P=0.05) was observed between concentration of fungal exudates and attraction of bacterial cells. Similarly, a significant (P=0.05; r=+0.82 to 0.95) positive correlation was noticed between chemotactic response and incubation period. The chemotactic response of bacteria was greatly influenced by temperature and pH of the test fungal exudate. The optimum temperature for maximum chemotaxis was $25^{\circ}C$ for A. radiobacter, $30^{\circ}C$ for B. polymyxa, P. aerugionosa, P. fluorescens and X. malvacearum and $35^{\circ}C$ for B. subtilis. Fungal exudates maintained at pH 7 attracted maximum number of bacteria. The response of bacterial cells to exudates at pH 3 and 11 was not significantly (P=0.05) different than that to the buffer (control). Chemotaxis of bacteria was observed towards attractants (fungal propagules and their exudates) when they were kept apart and bridged with the capillaries filled with non-attractant (buffer) or attractant (exudate).