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Detection of a quorum sensing signal molecule of Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli and its regulation of pathogenicity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 April 2009

Chen Tao
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Monitoring and Management of Crop Diseases and Pest Insects, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing 210095, China
Qian Guo-Liang
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Monitoring and Management of Crop Diseases and Pest Insects, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing 210095, China
Yang Xiao-Li
Affiliation:
Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi 830091, China
Ma Jun-Yi
Affiliation:
Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi 830091, China
Hu Bai-Shi*
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Monitoring and Management of Crop Diseases and Pest Insects, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing 210095, China
Liu Feng-Quan
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Monitoring and Management of Crop Diseases and Pest Insects, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing 210095, China
*
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

An efficient AHL (N-acyl-homoserine lactone) bioassay strain, JZA1, of Agrobacterium tumefaciens was used to detect the AHL production from Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli [the pathogen causing bacterial fruit blotch (BFB) of melons], and the results showed that A. avenae subsp. citrulli produced a 3-O-C8-homoserine (HSL) type signal molecule. Gene aiiA, which could degrade AHL molecules, was transformed into A. avenae subsp. citrulli strain NJF10, creating strain NJF10-aiiA. The AHL production from NJF10-aiiA was significantly reduced compared with wild-type NJF10. Inoculation tests showed that NJF10-aiiA had an obvious reduction of virulence on watermelon fruits. Our finds showed that AHL production by A. avenae subsp. citrulli was related to its pathogenicity. This work might provide a novel way to control BFB by QS (quorum sensing) interference.

Type
Research Papers
Copyright
Copyright © China Agricultural University 2009

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