Epiphytic Strains of Pseudomonas syringae Kill Diverse Aphid Species.

Interactions between epiphytic bacteria and herbivorous insects are ubiquitous on plants, but little is known about their ecological implications. Aphids are devastating crop pests worldwide, so understanding how epiphytic bacteria impact aphid populations is critically important. Recent evidence demonstrates that plant-associated bacteria, such as , can be highly virulent to one species of aphid, the pea aphid ().