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Light regulates motility, attachment and virulence in the plant pathogen P seudomonas syringae pv tomato DC 3000
Author(s) -
RíoÁlvarez Isabel,
RodríguezHerva José Juan,
Martínez Pedro Manuel,
GonzálezMelendi Pablo,
GarcíaCasado Gloria,
RodríguezPalenzuela Pablo,
LópezSolanilla Emilia
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.954
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1462-2920
pISSN - 1462-2912
DOI - 10.1111/1462-2920.12240
Subject(s) - biology , virulence , phyllosphere , pseudomonas syringae , apoplast , microbiology and biotechnology , motility , pathogen , mutant , epiphyte , blue light , darkness , phenotype , botany , bacteria , genetics , gene , cell wall , physics , optics
Summary P seudomonas syringae pv tomato DC 3000 ( P to) is the causal agent of the bacterial speck of tomato, which leads to significant economic losses in this crop. P to inhabits the tomato phyllosphere, where the pathogen is highly exposed to light, among other environmental factors. Light represents a stressful condition and acts as a source of information associated with different plant defence levels. Here, we analysed the presence of both blue and red light photoreceptors in a group of P seudomonas . In addition, we studied the effect of white, blue and red light on P to features related to epiphytic fitness. While white and blue light inhibit motility, bacterial attachment to plant leaves is promoted. Moreover, these phenotypes are altered in a blue‐light receptor mutant. These light‐controlled changes during the epiphytic stage cause a reduction in virulence, highlighting the relevance of motility during the entry process to the plant apoplast. This study demonstrated the key role of light perception in the P to phenotype switching and its effect on virulence.