Effects of light conditions on prodigiosin stability in the biocontrol bacterium Serratia marcescens strain B2

Abstract

Serratia marcescens strain B2 is a potential biocontrol agent that produces the antibiotic pigment prodigiosin. When this strain was incubated under white or blue light conditions (<100 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹), prodigiosin concentration in bacterial cells decreased, but growth did not. However, red and far-red light had no effect on prodigiosin concentration in bacterial cells. Purified prodigiosin was degraded under white or blue light conditions but was not degraded under red and far-red light. Because white and blue light appeared to affect the stability of prodigiosin itself, light conditions may affect the suppressive effects of the biocontrol agent S. marcescens strain B2.