Importance of N-Acyl-Homoserine Lactone-Based Quorum Sensing and Quorum Quenching in Pathogen Control and Plant Growth Promotion

The biological control of plant pathogens is linked to the composition and activity of the plant microbiome. Plant-associated microbiomes co-evolved with land plants, leading to plant holobionts with plant-beneficial microbes but also with plant pathogens. A diverse range of plant-beneficial microbes assists plants to reach their optimal development and growth under both abiotic and biotic stress conditions. Communication within the plant holobiont plays an important role, and besides plant hormonal interactions, quorum-sensing signalling of plant-associated microbes plays a central role. Quorum-sensing (QS) autoinducers, such as N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHL) of Gram-negative bacteria, cause a pronounced interkingdom signalling effect on plants, provoking priming processes of pathogen defence and insect pest control. However, plant pathogenic bacteria also use QS signalling to optimise their virulence; these QS activities can be controlled by quorum quenching (QQ) and quorum-sensing inhibition (QSI) approaches by accompanying microbes and also by plants. Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) have also been shown to demonstrate QQ activity. In addition, some PGPB only harbour genes for AHL receptors, so-called luxR-solo genes, which can contribute to plant growth promotion and biological control. The presence of autoinducer solo receptors may reflect ongoing microevolution processes in microbe–plant interactions. Different aspects of QS systems in bacteria–plant interactions of plant-beneficial and pathogenic bacteria will be discussed, and practical applications of bacteria with AHL-producing or -quenching activity; QS signal molecules stimulating pathogen control and plant growth promotion will also be presented.

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Genomic Analysis of the 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylate Deaminase-Producing Pseudomonas thivervalensis SC5 Reveals Its Multifaceted Roles in Soil and in Beneficial Interactions With Plants

Frontiers in Microbiology ◽

10.3389/fmicb.2021.752288 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Francisco X. Nascimento ◽

Paola Urón ◽

Bernard R. Glick ◽

Admir Giachini ◽

Márcio J. Rossi

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Plant Growth ◽

Pseudomonas Syringae ◽

Plant Growth Promotion ◽

Growth Promotion ◽

Genomic Analysis ◽

Acc Deaminase ◽

Quorum Quenching ◽

Cucumber Plant

Beneficial 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase-producing bacteria promote plant growth and stress resistance, constituting a sustainable alternative to the excessive use of chemicals in agriculture. In this work, the increased plant growth promotion activity of the ACC deaminase-producing Pseudomonas thivervalensis SC5, its ability to limit the growth of phytopathogens, and the genomics behind these important properties are described in detail. P. thivervalensis SC5 displayed several active plant growth promotion traits and significantly increased cucumber plant growth and resistance against salt stress (100mmol/L NaCl) under greenhouse conditions. Strain SC5 also limited the in vitro growth of the pathogens Botrytis cinerea and Pseudomonas syringae DC3000 indicating active biological control activities. Comprehensive analysis revealed that P. thivervalensis SC5 genome is rich in genetic elements involved in nutrient acquisition (N, P, S, and Fe); osmotic stress tolerance (e.g., glycine-betaine, trehalose, and ectoine biosynthesis); motility, chemotaxis and attachment to plant tissues; root exudate metabolism including the modulation of plant phenolics (e.g., hydroxycinnamic acids), lignin, and flavonoids (e.g., quercetin); resistance against plant defenses (e.g., reactive oxygens species-ROS); plant hormone modulation (e.g., ethylene, auxins, cytokinins, and salicylic acid), and bacterial and fungal phytopathogen antagonistic traits (e.g., 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol, HCN, a fragin-like non ribosomal peptide, bacteriocins, a lantipeptide, and quorum-quenching activities), bringing detailed insights into the action of this versatile plant-growth-promoting bacterium. Ultimately, the combination of both increased plant growth promotion/protection and biological control abilities makes P. thivervalensis SC5 a prime candidate for its development as a biofertilizer/biostimulant/biocontrol product. The genomic analysis of this bacterium brings new insights into the functioning of Pseudomonas and their role in beneficial plant-microbe interactions.

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Genome Sequencing of Pantoea agglomerans C1 Provides Insights into Molecular and Genetic Mechanisms of Plant Growth-Promotion and Tolerance to Heavy Metals

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms8020153 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 153 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Francesca Luziatelli ◽

Anna Grazia Ficca ◽

Mariateresa Cardarelli ◽

Francesca Melini ◽

Andrea Cavalieri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Plant Growth ◽

Plant Growth Promotion ◽

Plant Pathogens ◽

Growth Promotion ◽

Pantoea Agglomerans ◽

Toxic Heavy Metals ◽

Circular Chromosome ◽

Plant Growth Promoting ◽

Genetic Mechanisms

Distinctive strains of Pantoea are used as soil inoculants for their ability to promote plant growth. Pantoea agglomerans strain C1, previously isolated from the phyllosphere of lettuce, can produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), solubilize phosphate, and inhibit plant pathogens, such as Erwinia amylovora. In this paper, the complete genome sequence of strain C1 is reported. In addition, experimental evidence is provided on how the strain tolerates arsenate As (V) up to 100 mM, and on how secreted metabolites like IAA and siderophores act as biostimulants in tomato cuttings. The strain has a circular chromosome and two prophages for a total genome of 4,846,925-bp, with a DNA G+C content of 55.2%. Genes related to plant growth promotion and biocontrol activity, such as those associated with IAA and spermidine synthesis, solubilization of inorganic phosphate, acquisition of ferrous iron, and production of volatile organic compounds, siderophores and GABA, were found in the genome of strain C1. Genome analysis also provided better understanding of the mechanisms underlying strain resistance to multiple toxic heavy metals and transmission of these genes by horizontal gene transfer. Findings suggested that strain C1 exhibits high biotechnological potential as plant growth-promoting bacterium in heavy metal polluted soils.

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Quorum Sensing System Affects the Plant Growth Promotion Traits of Serratia fonticola GS2

Frontiers in Microbiology ◽

10.3389/fmicb.2020.536865 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Byung Kwon Jung ◽

Jerald Conrad Ibal ◽

Huy Quang Pham ◽

Min-Chul Kim ◽

Gun-Seok Park ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quorum Sensing ◽

Plant Growth ◽

Plant Growth Promotion ◽

Biofilm Formation ◽

Growth Promotion ◽

Acc Deaminase ◽

Deletion Mutants ◽

Phenotypic Data ◽

Collective Behaviors ◽

Pgp Activities

Quorum sensing (QS) enables bacteria to organize gene expression programs, thereby coordinating collective behaviors. It involves the production, release, and population-wide detection of extracellular signaling molecules. The cellular processes regulated by QS in bacteria are diverse and may be used in mutualistic coordination or in response to changing environmental conditions. Here, we focused on the influence of the QS-dependent genes of our model bacterial strain Serratia fonticola GS2 on potential plant growth promoting (PGP) activities including indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase activity, and biofilm formation. Based on genomic and phenotypic experimental data we identified and investigated the function of QS genes in the genome of the model strain. Our gene deletion study confirmed the biological functionality of the QS auto-inducer (gloI) and receptor (gloR) on potential PGP activities of GS2. A transcriptomic approach was also undertaken to understand the role of QS genes in regulation of genes primarily involved in PGP activities (IAA, ACC deaminase activity, and biofilm formation). Both transcriptomic and phenotypic data revealed that the QS-deletion mutants had considerably less PGP activities, as compared to the wild type. In addition, in vivo plant experiments showed that plants treated with GS2 had significantly higher growth rates than plants treated with the QS-deletion mutants. Overall, our results showed how QS-dependent genes regulate the potential PGP activities of GS2. This information may be helpful in understanding the relationship between QS-dependent genes and the PGP activity of bacteria, which aid in the production of practical bio-fertilizers for plant growth promotion.

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Evaluation of bacteria isolated from rice for plant growth promotion and biological control of seedling disease of rice

Canadian Journal of Microbiology ◽

10.1139/w01-097 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 47 (10) ◽

pp. 916-924 ◽

Cited By ~ 71

Author(s):

Tika B Adhikari ◽

C M Joseph ◽

Guoping Yang ◽

Donald A Phillips ◽

Louise M Nelson

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Plant Growth ◽

Plant Growth Promotion ◽

Growth Promotion ◽

Disease Incidence ◽

Control Plant ◽

16S Rrna Genes ◽

Rrna Genes ◽

Bacterial Strains ◽

Seedling Disease

Of 102 rhizoplane and endophytic bacteria isolated from rice roots and stems in California, 37% significantly (P [Formula: see text] 0.05) inhibited the growth in vitro of two pathogens, Achlya klebsiana and Pythium spinosum, causing seedling disease of rice. Four endophytic strains were highly effective against seedling disease in growth pouch assays, and these were identified as Pseudomonas fluorescens (S3), Pseudomonas tolaasii (S20), Pseudomonas veronii (S21), and Sphingomonas trueperi (S12) by sequencing of amplified 16S rRNA genes. Strains S12, S20, and S21 contained the nitrogen fixation gene, nifD, but only S12 was able to reduce acetylene in pure culture. The four strains significantly enhanced plant growth in the absence of pathogens, as evidenced by increases in plant height and dry weight of inoculated rice seedlings relative to noninoculated rice. Three bacterial strains (S3, S20, and S21) were evaluated in pot bioassays and reduced disease incidence by 50%73%. Strain S3 was as effective at suppressing disease at the lowest inoculum density (106 CFU/mL) as at higher density (108 CFU/mL or undiluted suspension). This study indicates that selected endophytic bacterial strains have potential for control of seedling disease of rice and for plant growth promotion.Key words: biological control, plant growth promotion, endophytes, rice, seedling disease.

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