Figure 6

Effects of P. fluorescens MFE01 and its mutants on competitive bacteria. A: Schematic drawing of the assay: P. fluorescens MFN1032 was inoculated into the centre of a ring formed by MFE01 or a mutant on LB medium in 0.3% agar. On this medium MFN1032 and ME01 can swim. B: Swimming of MFN1032 in competition with MFE01 or mutants. Results after incubation at 28°C, 24 h. The images shown are representative of three assays. C: Co-cultures were performed on swarming medium (LB in 0.6% agar) at 28°C, 24h. On this medium MFN1032 can swarm but ME01 cannot. Prey cells (MFN1032) were or were not mixed with P. fluorescens MFE01 or its derivatives at ratio 1:5. The images shown are representative of three assays. D: Quantitative black histograms represent survival of MFN1032 and white squares the MFN1032 swarm diameter (n = 4, error bars represent standard error of the mean). * Indicates a significant difference of the MFN1032 cfu (p-value <0.05) relative to the MFN1032/MFE01 assay. ns: no significant difference.