Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 8, 2026
09:04
Monitoring Bacterial Colonization and Maintenance on Arabidopsis thaliana Roots in a Floating Hydroponic System
Published on: May 28, 2019
11.2K
Pseudomonas can make or break a happy phyllosphere microbiota.
Daniela Ramírez-Sánchez1, Detlef Weigel1
1Department of Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, Tübingen 72076, Germany.
Cell Host & Microbe
|December 11, 2025
Summary
Microbiome pH modulation is a plant defense strategy. Certain Pseudomonas bacteria protect wheat from Fusarium graminearum by controlling host environmental pH, while others aid fungal growth.
Area of Science:
- Plant-microbe interactions
- Host-microbiome dynamics
- Plant pathology
Background:
- Fusarium graminearum causes significant crop losses in wheat.
- Fungal pathogens often manipulate host environmental pH for growth and virulence.
- The role of bacterial endophytes in modulating host pH during plant-pathogen interactions is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of Pseudomonas strains in modulating host pH during Fusarium graminearum infection in wheat.
- To determine if pH modulation by Pseudomonas represents a microbiome-mediated defense mechanism against fungal pathogens.
Main Methods:
- Wheat was inoculated with Fusarium graminearum and various Pseudomonas strains.
- Host plant root and rhizosphere pH was measured.
- Fungal growth and disease severity were assessed.
Main Results:
- Some Pseudomonas strains counteracted Fusarium-induced alkalinization, protecting wheat from infection.
- Other Pseudomonas strains exacerbated alkalinization, promoting fungal growth and disease.
- Host pH modulation by Pseudomonas directly impacts plant defense against Fusarium graminearum.
Conclusions:
- Microbiome-mediated pH modulation is a key mechanism in plant defense against fungal pathogens.
- Specific Pseudomonas strains can confer protection to wheat by maintaining a favorable host pH environment.
- The outcome of plant-microbe interactions is strain-specific and depends on the modulation of host environmental conditions.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:28Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing
463
Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...
463
02:11The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition
46.5K
Plants have the impressive ability to create their own food through photosynthesis. However, plants often require assistance from organisms in the soil to acquire the nutrients they need to function correctly. Both bacteria and fungi have evolved symbiotic relationships with plants that help the species to thrive in a wide variety of environments.
46.5K
01:30Environmental Applications of Microorganisms
903
Microorganisms play a pivotal role in maintaining ecosystem balance by recycling essential elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, as well as supporting processes like bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and biofuel production.Microbes in Elemental CyclesIn the carbon cycle, microorganisms decompose organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide via aerobic respiration. This carbon dioxide is subsequently used by photosynthetic organisms to synthesize organic compounds, closing the...
903
01:18Surface Membrane Barriers
2.5K
The skin and mucous membranes serve as the primary line of defense against pathogens by providing both physical and chemical protection. These barriers are essential in preventing the entry and establishment of microbes, thereby maintaining the integrity of the host.
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...
2.5K
01:27Microorganisms in Agriculture and Food industry
1.2K
Microorganisms play a crucial role in agriculture and the food industry, contributing to soil fertility, crop protection, and food production. Their functions range from nitrogen fixation and biopesticide production to fermentation and food preservation, making them indispensable to sustainable farming and food safety.Role in AgricultureNitrogen-fixing bacteria, such as Rhizobium (symbiotic) and Azotobacter (free-living), convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia through biological nitrogen...
1.2K
01:26Bacterial Phylum Bacteroidota
529
The phylum Bacteroidota includes over 700 species classified into four primary orders: Bacteroidales, Cytophagales, Flavobacteriales, and Sphingobacteriales. These gram-negative, non-sporulating rods exhibit saccharolytic capabilities and can be aerobic or fermentative, encompassing obligate aerobes, facultative aerobes, and obligate anaerobes. Many species display gliding motility, though some are nonmotile or use flagella. The genus Bacteroides is well-studied due to its significant role in...
529