Pyricularia oryzae enhances Streptomyces griseus growth via non-volatile alkaline metabolites

Chemical compounds that affect microbial interactions have attracted wide interest. In this study, Streptomyces griseus showed enhanced growth when cocultured with the rice blast fungus Pyricularia oryzae on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium. An improvement in S. griseus growth was observed before contact with P. oryzae, and no growth-promoting effect was observed when the growth medium between the two microorganisms was separated. These results suggested that the chemicals produced by P. oryzae diffused through the medium and were not volatile. A PDA plate supplemented with phenol red showed that the pH of the area surrounding P. oryzae increased. The area with increased pH promoted S. griseus growth, suggesting that the alkaline compounds produced by P. oryzae were involved in this growth stimulation. In contrast, coculture with the soilborne plant pathogen Fusarium oxysporum and entomopathogenic fungus Cordyceps tenuipes did not promote S. griseus growth. Furthermore, DL-α-Difluoromethylornithine, a polyamine biosynthesis inhibitor, prevented the increase in pH and growth promotion of S. griseus by P. oryzae. These results indicated that P. oryzae increased pH by producing a polyamine.