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Title: The 3-hydroxy-2-butanone pathway is required for Pectobacterium carotovorum pathogenesis

Author
item MARQUEZ, MARIA - University Of Wisconsin
item WEBER, BROOKE - University Of Wisconsin
item WITHERELL, ANDY - University Of Wisconsin
item Willis, David
item CHARKOWSKI, AMY - University Of Wisconsin

Submitted to: PLOS ONE
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/5/2011
Publication Date: 8/18/2011
Citation: Marquez, M., Weber, B., Witherell, A., Willis, D.K., Charkowski, A.O. 2011. The 3-hydroxy-2-butanone pathway is required for Pectobacterium carotovorum pathogenesis. PLoS One. Available: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0022974.

Interpretive Summary: We are studying the mechanism by which bacteria are able to cause plant disease. The enteric phytopathogen Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum WPP14 causes soft rot in potatoes and other economically important crops. This organism produces of a variety of compounds that are essential for causing disease. We hope to gain an understanding of the molecular biology of the genes and gene products that are required for the disease process by the bacteria. Ultimately, this understanding will provide information of use to breeders and plant molecular biologists that will enable the development of plant lines resistant to disease organisms. This manuscript describes identification of a highly expressed gene as essential for soft rot disease of potato tubers.

Technical Abstract: Pectobacterium species are necrotrophic bacterial pathogens that cause soft rot diseases in potatoes and several other crops worldwide. A tiled microarray based on the genome sequence of Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum WPP14 was used to identify Pectobacterium genes that are differentially regulated during disease in potatoes stems and tubers. We further examined one of these genes, budB, which encodes a-acetolactate synthase, an enzyme in the 2,3-butanediol pathway. Disruption of the 2,3-butanediol pathway affected virulence of P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum WPP14 on potato tubers, and impaired alkalinization of growth medium and potato tubers.