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Plant-derived auxin plays an accessory role in symptom development upon Rhodococcus fascians infection
Elisabeth Stes1, Els Prinsen, Marcelle Holsters
1Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Gent, Belgium.
Rhodococcus fascians infection hijacks plant auxin biosynthesis via the indole-3-pyruvic acid pathway. This bacterial cytokinin manipulation enhances plant auxin signaling, reinforcing disease symptoms and plant growth modulation.
Area of Science:
- Plant Pathology
- Microbial Pathogenesis
- Plant-Microbe Interactions
- Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions
Background:
- Rhodococcus fascians is a biotrophic phytopathogen impacting plant development.
- Bacterial cytokinins are key virulence factors inducing shoot formation.
- The interaction involves complex signaling between bacteria and host plants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the role of plant auxin biosynthesis in Rhodococcus fascians infection.
- To investigate the mechanism by which bacterial cytokinins influence plant hormone pathways.
- To understand how plant-derived auxin contributes to disease symptom development.
Main Methods:
- Expression profiling of auxin biosynthesis marker genes.
- Analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana mutants defective in the indole-3-pyruvic acid (IPA) pathway (taa1-1 tar2-1).
- Assessment of bacterial colonization and virulence gene expression.
- Evaluation of plant responsiveness to R. fascians infection.
Main Results:
- Bacterial cytokinins stimulate plant auxin biosynthesis, specifically targeting the IPA pathway.
- Arabidopsis mutants with a defective IPA pathway showed reduced responsiveness to R. fascians.
- Bacterial colonization and virulence gene expression were unaffected in the mutant.
- Plant-derived auxin reinforces symptom formation, and altered auxin transport contributes to symptom development.
Conclusions:
- Rhodococcus fascians utilizes bacterial cytokinins to manipulate plant auxin biosynthesis, enhancing disease symptoms.
- The IPA pathway is crucial for plant responsiveness to R. fascians infection.
- Plant-derived auxin and modified polar auxin transport are essential for symptom onset and maintenance.
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