Genes and Genomes of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria

Dear Colleagues,

Bacterial plant pathogens are a diverse group of organisms that infect a wide range of host plants and cause a variety of economically important diseases. Pioneering studies of pathogenicity mechanisms have led to certain bacterial plant pathogens, such as Pseudomonas syringae, being
recognised as major models for unravelling the genetics of pathogen-host interactions. Others, such as Agrobacterium tumefaciens, have important applications in genetic engineering and biotechnology. Many plant pathogenic bacteria share common features with animal pathogenic bacteria, such as the ability to use protein secretion systems to deliver effector proteins into plant cells. However, they have distinctive metabolic and biosynthetic pathways that allow them to assimilate plant metabolites and to produce hormones and toxins that modulate plant physiology and development.

Our understanding of the pathogenicity mechanisms used by bacterial plant pathogens has been greatly enhanced by the availability of complete genome sequences, which have begun to be coupled with draft genome sequence data and transcriptomic data generated by next generation sequencing. With such a depth of genetic data available, the genes and genomes of plant pathogenic bacteria are key resources that have a major impact in understanding the biology and evolution of plant pathogenesis. This issue will highlight the diversity and impact of research in this area by bringing together cutting edge research papers and review articles from leading phytobacteriologists.

Dr. Gail M. Preston
Dr. Magdalen Lindeberg
Dr. Robert W. Jackson
Dr. Dawn Arnold
Guest Editors