Award Date

1-1-1989

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biological Science

First Committee Member

Penny S. Amy

Number of Pages

65

Abstract

The survival of ice nucleation-active (INA) and genetically engineered non-INA strains of Pseudomonas syringae was compared under starvation and freezing conditions. In starvation experiments, both strains displayed similar survival curves and recovery from starvation was nearly identical for the two strains. In freezing experiments, oat seedlings colonized by each strain were subjected to freezing temperatures. Populations of the INA strain increased 15-fold in the 18 hours after oat plants incurred frost damage at {dollar}-{dollar}5 and {dollar}-{dollar}12{dollar}\sp\circ{dollar}C. Plants colonized by the non-INA strain were undamaged at {dollar}-{dollar}5{dollar}\sp\circ{dollar}C and exhibited no changes in population size. As temperatures were lowered, plants colonized by the non-INA strain suffered increased frost damage concomitant with bacterial population increases. At {dollar}-{dollar}12{dollar}\sp\circ{dollar}C, both strains behaved identically. The data show a relationship between frost damage to plants and subsequent increased bacterial population size, indicating a potential competitive advantage for INA strains of P. syringae in mild freezing environments.

Keywords

Active; Engineered; Genetically; Ice nucleation-active; INA; Inactive; Nucleation; Pseudomonas; Strains; Survival; Syringae

Controlled Subject

Microbiology

File Format

pdf

File Size

2447.36 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

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