Evolutionary transitions between beneficial and phytopathogenic Rhodococcus challenge disease management.

ABSTRACT: Understanding how bacteria affect plant health is crucial for developing sustainable crop production systems. We coupled ecological sampling and genome sequencing to characterize the population genetic history of Rhodococcus and the distribution patterns of virulence plasmids in isolates from nurseries. Analysis of chromosome sequences shows that plants host multiple lineages of Rhodococcus, and suggested that these bacteria are transmitted due to independent introductions, reservoir populations, and point source outbreaks. We demonstrate that isolates lacking virulence genes promote beneficial plant growth, and that the acquisition of a virulence plasmid is sufficient to transition beneficial symbionts to phytopathogens. This evolutionary transition, along with the distribut

SUBMITTER: Savory EA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5726852 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature