Next Article in Journal
Low-Temperature Microbiology Meets the Global Challenges of Our Time
Previous Article in Journal
Novel Genetic Lineages of Rickettsia helvetica Associated with Ixodes apronophorus and Ixodes trianguliceps Ticks
Previous Article in Special Issue
Pseudomonas bijieensis Strain XL17 within the P. corrugata Subgroup Producing 2,4-Diacetylphloroglucinol and Lipopeptides Controls Bacterial Canker and Gray Mold Pathogens of Kiwifruit
 
 
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Editorial

Plant-Associated Pseudomonads

1
Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
2
Department of Molecular Microbiology, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Microorganisms 2023, 11(5), 1216; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11051216
Submission received: 31 March 2023 / Accepted: 4 May 2023 / Published: 6 May 2023
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Associated Pseudomonads)
Bacteria belonging to the genus Pseudomonas (the pseudomonads) are a group of Gammaproteobacteria that are characterized by a high metabolic versatility and adaption to different ecological niches. One of these niches, occupied by several strains and species of pseudomonads, is the plant and its microbiome, which, depending on the strain or species, may have a saprophytic or pathogenic lifestyle. Furthermore, many plant-saprophytic pseudomonads present plant growth promoting (PGP) properties and are being used in agriculture for the design of novel inoculants for plant growth and/or plant protection.
In this Special Issue, ten articles analyze different aspects of the pseudomonads–plant interaction. Both saprophytic and pathogenic pseudomonads are studied.
Regarding pathogenic pseudomonads, Moreno-Perez et al. (2021) [1] describe the HrpL regulon of the woody plant pathogen Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. savastanoi. The HrpL regulon includes the components and effectors of a type three secretion system (T3SS), which is implicated in virulence. The authors use a combination of transcriptomic analysis, bioinformatic prediction, and virulence tests to define more than 50 genes belonging to this regulon. Although many of the genes regulated by HprL belonged to the T3SS, some others may represent novel virulence factors. Another woody plant pathogen is studied in this Special Issue. In the article by Neale et al. (2021) [2], the authors use a mutagenesis approach in two patovars of Pseudomonas syringae to identify genes implicated in the bacterial canker disease of cherry. From a battery of mutants, they selected 18 genes affecting virulence and found that they were related to motility, type III secretion, membrane transport, amino acid synthesis, DNA repair, and primary metabolism.
Several articles in this issue deal with pseudomonads showing biocontrol ability. Ali et al. (2022) [3] show that an endophytic strain of Pseudomonas bijeensis, a species belonging to the corrugata subgroup, can control bacterial canker and gray mold pathogens of kiwifruit. They show that this bacterium produces the fungicide diacetyl-phloroglucinol (DAPG), as well as lipopeptides, and links these two traits with the antifungal and antibacterial activity of the bacterium. Yan et al. (2021) [4] analyzed the regulation of the production of the antibiotic pyoluteorin by the biocontrol strain Pseudomonas protegens Pf5. The production of this antibiotic is regulated by autoinduction, and two transcriptional regulators, PltR and PltZ, coordinate autoinduction. Pintado et al. (2021) [5] show that the exudate produced by the pathogenic fungus Rosellinia necatrix induces the expression of biofilm-related genes in a biocontrol strain of Pseudomonas alcaligenes. This strain shows antagonism to the fungus and feeds on its exudate. The genomic sequence of this strain is presented. They also identify a gene encoding a GGDEF-EAL protein, implicated in biofilm formation through its EAL domain. Biofilm is also the topic of the Blanco-Romero et al. (2021) article [6]. The authors of this article present an “in silico” analysis of the extracellular matrix (ECM) components of the biocontrol and model strain Pseudomonas ogarae F113. In this article, they describe a novel exopolysaccharide, pseudomonas acidic polysaccharide (Pap) produced by F113 and a number of other plant-associated pseudomonads. They also show that this polysaccharide, as well as an alternative type of tight adhesion pili (Tad) have co-evolved in many plant-associated pseudomonads. The presence or absence of different polysaccharides and extracellular proteins in different species of pseudomonads is also shown. Another strain with possible biocontrol ability is Pseudomonas fluorescens WH6. This strain produces the non-proteinogenic amino acid 4-formylaminooxyvinylglycine (FVG), a secondary metabolite with antibacterial and pre-emergent herbicidal activities. Manning and Trippe (2021) [7] generated KO mutants in gvg genes implicated in the regulation of FVG production and found that many genes were regulated by this system. They also showed that in KO mutants that did not produce FVG, resources were mobilized to increase phenotypes involved in rhizocompetence, including motility, biofilm formation, and denitrification. Hoffmann et al. (2021) [8] use a biocontrol strain of Pseudomonas simiae to show that the order of inoculation in the wheat of this strain and two fungal pathogens had an effect in the outcome of the plant–bacteria–fungi interaction and especially in the production of mycotoxins.
Finally, two articles deal with the environmental adaption of plant-associated pseudomonads. Lalaouna et al. (2021) [9] show the importance of the Gac system and its associated Rsm small RNAs in the adaption of Pseudomonas brassicacearum to nutrient-poor environments. They also show the linkage of the Rsm pathway to the stringent response and to the levels of the messenger molecule c-di-GMP. The article by Breitkreutz et al. (2021) [10] analyzes the influence of drought and plant community composition in the diversity of pseudomonad genotypes in grasslands. Their results suggest that the Pseudomonas community quickly responds to drought in terms of structure and function, while the extent of the response is affected by the plant community composition. These functional changes are trait-specific.
This collection of 2021–2022 articles reflects the state of the art of research in pseudomonads–plant interactions, and shows the relevance that genomic techniques, such as sequencing, transcriptomics, and genome-wide mutagenesis, as well as bioinformatic analysis, are having in this research. It also highlights the diversity of lifestyles of pseudomonads when interacting with plants and their potential application in agricultural biotechnology.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

  1. Moreno-Pérez, A.; Ramos, C.; Rodríguez-Moreno, L. HrpL Regulon of Bacterial Pathogen of Woody Host Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. savastanoi NCPPB 3335. Microorganisms 2021, 9, 1447. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  2. Neale, H.C.; Hulin, M.T.; Harrison, R.J.; Jackson, R.W.; Arnold, D.L. Transposon Mutagenesis of Pseudomonas syringae Pathovars syringae and morsprunorum to Identify Genes Involved in Bacterial Canker Disease of Cherry. Microorganisms 2021, 9, 1328. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  3. Ali, A.; Luo, J.; Ahmed, T.; Zhang, J.; Xie, T.; Dai, D.; Jiang, J.; Zhu, J.; Hassan, S.; Alorabi, J.A.; et al. Pseudomonas bijieensis Strain XL17 within the P. corrugata Subgroup Producing 2,4-Diacetylphloroglucinol and Lipopeptides Controls Bacterial Canker and Gray Mold Pathogens of Kiwifruit. Microorganisms 2022, 10, 425. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  4. Yan, Q.; Liu, M.; Kidarsa, T.; Johnson, C.P.; Loper, J.E. Two Pathway-Specific Transcriptional Regulators, PltR and PltZ, Coordinate Autoinduction of Pyoluteorin in Pseudomonas protegens Pf-5. Microorganisms 2021, 9, 1489. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  5. Pintado, A.; Pérez-Martínez, I.; Aragón, I.M.; Gutiérrez-Barranquero, J.A.; de Vicente, A.; Cazorla, F.M.; Ramos, C. The Rhizobacterium Pseudomonas alcaligenes AVO110 Induces the Expression of Biofilm-Related Genes in Response to Rosellinia necatrix Exudates. Microorganisms 2021, 9, 1388. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  6. Blanco-Romero, E.; Garrido-Sanz, D.; Rivilla, R.; Redondo-Nieto, M.; Martín, M. In Silico Characterization and Phylogenetic Distribution of Extracellular Matrix Components in the Model Rhizobacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens F113 and Other Pseudomonads. Microorganisms 2020, 8, 1740. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  7. Manning, V.A.; Trippe, K.M. Absence of 4-Formylaminooxyvinylglycine Production by Pseudomonas fluorescens WH6 Results in Resource Reallocation from Secondary Metabolite Production to Rhizocompetence. Microorganisms 2021, 9, 717. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  8. Hoffmann, A.; Lischeid, G.; Koch, M.; Lentzsch, P.; Sommerfeld, T.; Marina, E.H.; Müller, M.E.H. Co-Cultivation of Fusarium, Alternaria, and Pseudomonas on Wheat-Ears Affects Microbial Growth and Mycotoxin Production. Microorganisms 2021, 9, 443. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  9. Lalaouna, D.; Fochesato, S.; Harir, M.; Ortet, P.; Schmitt-Kopplin, P.; Heulin, T.; Achouak, W. Amplifying and Fine-Tuning Rsm sRNAs Expression and Stability to Optimize the Survival of Pseudomonas brassicacerum in Nutrient-Poor Environments. Microorganisms 2021, 9, 250. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  10. Breitkreuz, C.; Reitz, T.; Schulzand, E.; Tarkka, M.T. Drought and Plant Community Composition Affect the Metabolic and Genotypic Diversity of Pseudomonas Strains in Grassland Soils. Microorganisms 2021, 9, 1677. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content.

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Rivilla, R.; Malone, J.G. Plant-Associated Pseudomonads. Microorganisms 2023, 11, 1216. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11051216

AMA Style

Rivilla R, Malone JG. Plant-Associated Pseudomonads. Microorganisms. 2023; 11(5):1216. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11051216

Chicago/Turabian Style

Rivilla, Rafael, and Jacob G. Malone. 2023. "Plant-Associated Pseudomonads" Microorganisms 11, no. 5: 1216. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11051216

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop