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Updated: Nov 8, 2025

Single-Cell Analysis of the Expression of Pseudomonas syringae Genes within the Plant Tissue
Published on: October 6, 2022
Phenazines and their role in biocontrol by Pseudomonas bacteria
Thomas F C Chin-A-Woeng1, Guido V Bloemberg1, Ben J J Lugtenberg1
1Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, Leiden University, The Netherlands (lugtenberg@rulbim.leidenuniv.nl).
Abstract:
Various rhizosphere bacteria are potential (micro)biological pesticides which are able to protect plants against diseases and improve plant yield. Knowledge of the molecular mechanisms that govern these beneficial plant-microbe interactions enables optimization, enhancement and identification of potential synergistic effects in plant protection. The production of antifungal metabolites, induction of systemic resistance, and the ability to compete efficiently with other resident rhizobacteria are considered to be important prerequisites for the optimal performance of biocontrol agents. Intriguing aspects in the molecular mechanisms of these processes have been discovered recently. Phenazines and phloroglucinols are major determinants of biological control of soilborne plant pathogens by various strains of fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. This review focuses on the current state of knowledge on biocontrol by phenazine-producing Pseudomonas strains and the action, biosynthesis, and regulation mechanisms of the production of microbial phenazines.
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o-hydroxy phenols are oxidized to o-quinones and p-hydroxy phenols to p-quinones. Such redox reactions involve the transfer of two electrons and two protons. The reversible redox...

