Functions and origin of plasmids in Erwinia species that are pathogenic to or epiphytically associated with pome fruit trees.

ABSTRACT: The genus Erwinia includes plant-associated pathogenic and non-pathogenic species. Among them, all species pathogenic to pome fruit trees (E. amylovora, E. pyrifoliae, E. piriflorinigrans, Erwinia sp. from Japan) cause similar symptoms, but differ in their degrees of aggressiveness, i.e. in symptoms, host range or both. The presence of plasmids of similar size, in the range of 30 kb, is a common characteristic that they possess. Besides, they share some genetic content with high homology in several genes associated with exopolysaccharide production and hence, with virulence, as well as in some other genes. Knowledge of the content of these plasmids and comparative genetic analyses may provide interesting new clues to understanding the origin and evolution of these pathogens a

SUBMITTER: Llop P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4425259 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature