A framework to gauge the epidemic potential of plant pathogens in environmental reservoirs: the example of kiwifruit canker

• DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12167
• Publication Date: 2014-07-02T05:25:48Z
• Authors: Claudia Bartoli; Jay Ram Lamichhane; Odile Berge; Caroline Guilbaud; Leonardo Varvaro; Giorgio M. Balestra; Boris A. Vinatzer; Cindy E. Morris
• Keywords: Canker

New economically important diseases on crops and forest trees emerge recurrently. An understanding of where new pathogenic lines come from how they evolve is fundamental for the deployment accurate surveillance methods. We used kiwifruit bacterial canker as a model to assess importance potential reservoirs lineages. The current epidemic at least fourth outbreak disease caused by Pseudomonas syringae in mere 50 years which this crop has been cultivated worldwide, with each being different genetic bacterium. Here, we ask whether strains natural (non-agricultural) environments could cause future epidemics kiwifruit. To answer question, evaluated pathogenicity, endophytic colonization capacity competitiveness P. genetically similar originally isolated aquatic subalpine habitats. All environmental possessing an operon involved degradation aromatic compounds via catechol pathway grew endophytically symptoms vascular tissue. Environmental showed wide host range, revealing their pathogens variety hosts. co-existed CFBP 7286, strain, shared about 20 virulence genes, but were missing six genes found all strains. By identifying specific gene content backgrounds known strains, developed criteria survey such means forecasting managing emergence.