Tropical strains of Ralstonia solanacearum Outcompete race 3 biovar 2 strains at lowland tropical temperatures.

ABSTRACT: Bacterial wilt, caused by members of the heterogenous Ralstonia solanacearum species complex, is an economically important vascular disease affecting many crops. Human activity has widely disseminated R. solanacearum strains, increasing their global agricultural impact. However, tropical highland race 3 biovar 2 (R3bv2) strains do not cause disease in tropical lowlands, even though they are virulent at warm temperatures. We tested the hypothesis that differences in temperature adaptation and competitive fitness explain the uneven geographic distribution of R. solanacearum strains. Using three phylogenetically and ecologically distinct strains, we measured competitive fitness at two temperatures following paired-strain inoculations of their shared host, tomato. Lowland tropical strain GMI10

SUBMITTER: Huerta AI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4407210 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature