Contributes to Nitrogen Utilization, Stress Tolerance, and Virulence in .

Bacterial fruit blotch (BFB), caused by , severely damages watermelon, melon, and other cucurbit crops worldwide. Nitrogen, one of the most important limiting elements in the environment, is necessary for the growth and reproduction of bacteria. As a nitrogen-regulating gene, plays an important role in maintaining bacterial nitrogen utilization and biological nitrogen fixation.

A putative multi-sensor hybrid histidine kinase, BarA , inhibits the expression of the type III secretion system regulator HrpG in .

Bacterial fruit blotch (BFB), caused by , severely damages watermelon, melon, and other cucurbit crops worldwide. Although many virulence determinants have been identified in , including swimming motility, twitching motility, biofilm formation, and the type III secretion system (T3SS), research on their regulation is lacking. To study virulence regulation mechanisms, we found a putative histidine kinase BarA that may be related to the T3SS regulator HrpG in .

Effector AopV Suppresses Plant Immunity and Interacts with Aromatic Dehydratase ADT6 in Watermelon.

Bacterial fruit blotch (BFB) is a disease of cucurbit plants caused by . Although has great destructive potential, the molecular mechanisms of pathogenicity of are not clear, particularly with regard to its type III secreted effectors. In this study, we characterized the type III secreted effector protein, AopV, from strain Aac5.

Removing systemic barriers to equity, diversity, and inclusion: Report of the 2019 Plant Science Research Network workshop "Inclusivity in the Plant Sciences".

A future in which scientific discoveries are valued and trusted by the general public cannot be achieved without greater inclusion and participation of diverse communities. To envision a path towards this future, in January 2019 a diverse group of researchers, educators, students, and administrators gathered to hear and share personal perspectives on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in the plant sciences. From these broad perspectives, the group developed strategies and identified tactics to facilitate and support EDI within and beyond the plant science community.

Essential Virulence Gene Activates Host Immune Response against Pathogen.

Bacterial fruit blotch (BFB) caused by (Ac) is a devastating watermelon disease that severely impacts the global watermelon industry. Like other Gram-negative bacteria, the type three secretion system (T3SS) is the main pathogenicity factor of . The T3SS apparatus gene codes for the Hrp pilus and serves as a conduit to secret effector proteins into host cells.

Patterns of Seed-to-Seedling Transmission of pv. , the Causal Agent of Cotton Bacterial Blight.

Cotton bacterial blight (CBB), caused by pv. , was a major disease of cotton in the United States in the early part of the twentieth century. The reemergence of CBB revealed many gaps in our understanding of this important disease.

Fermentation: An Unreliable Seed Treatment for Bacterial Fruit Blotch of Watermelon.

is a seedborne pathogen that causes bacterial fruit blotch (BFB), a global threat to watermelon production. Treating watermelon seeds to eliminate is a critical component of BFB management, and several strategies have been evaluated to mitigate the impact of the disease. In China, watermelon seed producers routinely incubate seeds in watermelon juice (fermentation) to reduce the risk of seed infection by and seedling transmission of BFB.

Type III Effector AopP Suppresses Plant Immunity by Targeting the Watermelon Transcription Factor WRKY6.

is the causal agent of bacterial fruit blotch (BFB), and BFB poses a threat to global watermelon production. Despite its economic importance, the molecular mechanisms underlying pathogenicity and virulence are not well understood, particularly with regard to its type III secreted effectors. We identify a new effector, AopP, in and confirm its secretion and translocation.

Genetically Distinct Strains Display Cucurbit Fruit Preference Under Field Conditions.

Strains of , the causal agent of bacterial fruit blotch (BFB) of cucurbits, can be assigned to two groups, I and II. The natural association of group I and II strains with different cucurbit species suggests host preference; however, there are no direct data to support this hypothesis under field conditions. Hence, the objective of this study was to assess differences in the prevalence of group I and II strains on cucurbit species in the field.

Show me your secret(ed) weapons: a multifaceted approach reveals a wide arsenal of type III-secreted effectors in the cucurbit pathogenic bacterium Acidovorax citrulli and novel effectors in the Acidovorax genus.

The cucurbit pathogenic bacterium Acidovorax citrulli requires a functional type III secretion system (T3SS) for pathogenicity. In this bacterium, as with Xanthomonas and Ralstonia spp., an AraC-type transcriptional regulator, HrpX, regulates expression of genes encoding T3SS components and type III-secreted effectors (T3Es).

Prevalence of in Commercial Cucurbit Seedlots During 2010-2018 in China.

is the causal agent of bacterial fruit blotch (BFB), a serious threat to cucurbit fruit and seed production worldwide. In recent years, the BFB has spread to many areas of China, mainly via the inadvertent distribution of contaminated commercial seeds. To assess the prevalence of seedborne in commercial watermelon and other cucurbitaceous seedlots in China, a 9-year survey was conducted between 2010 and 2018.

Ferric Uptake Regulator (FurA) is Required for Virulence on Watermelon.

is the causal agent of bacterial fruit blotch, a serious threat to commercial watermelon and melon crop production worldwide. Ferric uptake regulator (Fur) is a global transcription factor that affects a number of virulence-related functions in phytopathogenic bacteria; however, the role of has not been determined for . Hence, we constructed an deletion mutant and a corresponding complement in the background of strain xlj12 to investigate the role of the gene in siderophore production, concentration of intracellular Fe, bacterial sensitivity to hydrogen peroxide, biofilm formation, swimming motility, hypersensitive response induction, and virulence on melon seedlings.

Complete Assembly of the Genome of an Strain Reveals a Naturally Occurring Plasmid in This Species.

is the causal agent of bacterial fruit blotch (BFB), a serious threat to cucurbit crop production worldwide. Based on genetic and phenotypic properties, strains are divided into two major groups: group I strains have been generally isolated from melon and other non-watermelon cucurbits, while group II strains are closely associated with watermelon. In a previous study, we reported the genome of the group I model strain, M6.

Nicotiana species as surrogate host for studying the pathogenicity of Acidovorax citrulli, the causal agent of bacterial fruit blotch of cucurbits.

Bacterial fruit blotch (BFB) caused by Acidovorax citrulli is one of the most important bacterial diseases of cucurbits worldwide. However, the mechanisms associated with A. citrulli pathogenicity and genetics of host resistance have not been extensively investigated.

Involvement of and in the Virulence of Strain Aac5, Causal Agent of Bacterial Fruit Blotch in Cucurbits.

causes bacterial fruit blotch, a disease that poses a global threat to watermelon and melon production. Despite its economic importance, relatively little is known about the molecular mechanisms of pathogenicity and virulence of . Like other plant-pathogenic bacteria, relies on a type III secretion system (T3SS) for pathogenicity.

Further Evidence of Cucurbit Host Specificity among Acidovorax citrulli Groups Based on a Detached Melon Fruit Pathogenicity Assay.

Bacterial fruit blotch, caused by the gram-negative bacterium Acidovorax citrulli, is a serious economic threat to cucurbit crop production worldwide. A. citrulli strains can be divided into two genetically distinct groups, with group I strains infecting a range of cucurbit species and group II strains being predominantly associated with watermelon.

Strains of the Group I Lineage of Acidovorax citrulli, the Causal Agent of Bacterial Fruit Blotch of Cucurbitaceous Crops, are Predominant in Brazil.

Bacterial fruit blotch (BFB), caused by the seedborne bacterium Acidovorax citrulli, is an economically important threat to cucurbitaceous crops worldwide. Since the first report of BFB in Brazil in 1990, outbreaks have occurred sporadically on watermelon and, more frequently, on melon, resulting in significant yield losses. At present, the genetic diversity and the population structure of A.

Insights from the Genome Sequence of Acidovorax citrulli M6, a Group I Strain of the Causal Agent of Bacterial Fruit Blotch of Cucurbits.

Acidovorax citrulli is a seedborne bacterium that causes bacterial fruit blotch of cucurbit plants including watermelon and melon. A. citrulli strains can be divided into two major groups based on DNA fingerprint analyses and biochemical properties.

Comparative Analysis of Type III Secreted Effector Genes Reflects Divergence of Acidovorax citrulli Strains into Three Distinct Lineages.

Acidovorax citrulli causes bacterial fruit blotch of cucurbits, a serious economic threat to watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and melon (Cucumis melo) production worldwide. Based on genetic and biochemical traits, A. citrulli strains have been divided into two distinct groups: group I strains have been mainly isolated from various non-watermelon hosts, while group II strains have been generally isolated from and are highly virulent on watermelon.

Acidovorax citrulli: generating basic and applied knowledge to tackle a global threat to the cucurbit industry.

Unlabelled: Acidovorax citrulli is the causal agent of bacterial fruit blotch (BFB) of cucurbit plants. In recent years, the disease has spread to many parts of the world, mainly via the inadvertent distribution of contaminated commercial seeds. Because of the costly lawsuits filed by growers against seed companies and the lack of efficient management methods, BFB represents a serious threat to the cucurbit industry, and primarily to watermelons and melons.