Articles
Comprehensive phylogenomic and comparative genomic analysis of Pseudomonas syringae associated with almonds in California
Article number
1406_48
Pages
337 – 344
Language
English
Abstract
Bacterial canker and bacterial blast of almond are two phases of a disease that can affect most parts of the almond tree, including flowers, leaves, trunk, and scaffold branches.
The plant genus Prunus hosts a larger number of polyphyletic pathovars and species within the Pseudomonas syringae species complex compared to all other known P. syringae host plants.
In California, the disease has been mainly attributed to P. syringae pv. syringae, although few studies have attempted to characterize Pseudomonas species affecting almond.
In this study, whole genome-based phylogenomic and comparative genomics were applied to elucidate the diversity of almond-associated P. syringae species, improve pathogen detection and disease management, and develop strategies to manage the risks of resistance development.
Of the Pseudomonas species isolated from almonds, at least three distinct species including P. syringae pv. syringae, P. viridiflava, and P. cerasi were found to cause bacterial blast and/or bacterial canker.
Furthermore, genome mining indicated the presence of antibiotic-resistance genes, including resistance to copper, tetracycline, and aminoglycosides, the antibiotics commonly used to control these pathogens. P. syringae, and P. cerasi genomes contained the ice nucleation protein which correlated with their verified ice nucleation ability; thus, these species are likely to cause blast at slightly higher temperatures.
Our comparative genomics also looked at the variation of virulence factors and correlated them with the observed pathogenicity phenotypes.
Pathogenicity assays were done on detached leaves and in the field on both leaves and branches.
Finally, we used bioinformatics tools to design species-specific primers for the identified pathogenic species.
The general structure of other fluorescent pseudomonads obtained from almonds is also discussed.
The plant genus Prunus hosts a larger number of polyphyletic pathovars and species within the Pseudomonas syringae species complex compared to all other known P. syringae host plants.
In California, the disease has been mainly attributed to P. syringae pv. syringae, although few studies have attempted to characterize Pseudomonas species affecting almond.
In this study, whole genome-based phylogenomic and comparative genomics were applied to elucidate the diversity of almond-associated P. syringae species, improve pathogen detection and disease management, and develop strategies to manage the risks of resistance development.
Of the Pseudomonas species isolated from almonds, at least three distinct species including P. syringae pv. syringae, P. viridiflava, and P. cerasi were found to cause bacterial blast and/or bacterial canker.
Furthermore, genome mining indicated the presence of antibiotic-resistance genes, including resistance to copper, tetracycline, and aminoglycosides, the antibiotics commonly used to control these pathogens. P. syringae, and P. cerasi genomes contained the ice nucleation protein which correlated with their verified ice nucleation ability; thus, these species are likely to cause blast at slightly higher temperatures.
Our comparative genomics also looked at the variation of virulence factors and correlated them with the observed pathogenicity phenotypes.
Pathogenicity assays were done on detached leaves and in the field on both leaves and branches.
Finally, we used bioinformatics tools to design species-specific primers for the identified pathogenic species.
The general structure of other fluorescent pseudomonads obtained from almonds is also discussed.
Authors
T.E. Maguvu, R.J. Frias, B. Holtz, M. Culumber, F. Niederholzer, R. Duncan, M.A. Yaghmour, P. Gordon, P.E. Rolshausen, J.E. Adaskaveg, F.P. Trouillas
Keywords
Groups involved
Online Articles (66)