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Virulent Rhodococcus fascians Produce Unique Methylated Cytokinins

Paula Elizabeth Jameson1

  • 1School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand.

Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
|December 11, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Rhodococcus fascians strains cause plant abnormalities. Endophytic strains, carrying a linear plasmid, produce a unique cytokinin (2-MeiP) that severely alters plant morphology, especially in high sugar conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Plant pathology
  • Microbial genetics
  • Plant physiology

Background:

  • Rhodococcus fascians exists as epiphytic or endophytic strains.
  • Endophytic strains cause plant abnormalities like multiple buds and reduced root growth, mediated by cytokinin.
  • Cytokinin biosynthesis, activation, and destruction genes are located on a linear plasmid in endophytic strains.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of cytokinin in R. fascians-induced plant morphological changes.
  • To identify the specific factors responsible for severe abnormalities caused by endophytic R. fascians.
  • To understand the mechanism by which R. fascians affects plant growth and development.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of epiphytic and endophytic R. fascians strains.
  • Assessment of cytokinin release and metabolism in inoculated plants.
  • Molecular analysis of genes involved in cytokinin pathways.
  • Observation of plant morphology under varying conditions.

Main Results:

  • Both epiphytic and endophytic R. fascians release cytokinin and affect plant metabolism.
  • Only endophytic strains significantly alter plant morphology.
  • Endophytic strains possess a linear plasmid with cytokinin-related genes.
  • A unique methylated cytokinin, 2-MeiP, is identified as the likely cause of severe morphological changes.

Conclusions:

  • The linear plasmid in endophytic R. fascians is crucial for inducing severe plant morphological abnormalities.
  • The methylated cytokinin 2-MeiP, acting in high sugar environments, is the primary factor behind these abnormalities.
  • R. fascians manipulates plant cytokinin metabolism and transporter expression to cause disease symptoms.
Keywords:
Rhodococcus fasciansSWEETamino acid transporterapical dominancecell wall invertasecytokininmethylated cytokininsugar transportersugar will eventually be exported transporter

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