Enterobacter Species: Opportunistic Human and Plant Pathogens With Plant-Beneficial Traits

Enterobacter species occur across diverse habitats and are best known for causing opportunistic and nosocomial infections in humans. The taxonomy of this genus is complex, with many species reassigned to and from this genus. Their interaction with plants is multifaceted. Strains of certain species cause opportunistic plant diseases.

Enterobacter species affect a wide range of plant hosts.

They cause a range of symptoms including leaf spots and blight, wilt and root diseases, decay and soft rot and cankers.

Some Enterobacter species include strains that are plant growth promoters and occur either in the rhizosphere or as endophytes. Additionally, some strains can protect their hosts from pathogen attack and are regarded as promising biological control agents. Some strains also have potential for the bioremediation of various compounds.

Information on the pathogenicity and virulence mechanisms of plant-pathogenic Enterobacter species is limited. Comparison of diverse genomic features revealed no overall differences between plant-pathogenic and plant-beneficial strains.

While often reported as a plant pathogen, there is currently no evidence that Enterobacter is the primary cause of any of the reported diseases. In many cases, they would rather act opportunistically. This remains a significant concern, as a wide range of hosts are affected, and problems may intensify due to global warming. It is crucial to investigate these strains for plant pathogenicity and evaluate the risks to human health.