Foliar-Applied Small Molecule that Suppresses Biofilm Formation and Enhances Control of Copper-Resistant Xanthomonas euvesicatoria on Pepper

Entrapment of antimicrobial compounds in a metal matrix for crop protection

Agricultural yields are often limited by damage caused by pathogenic microorganisms, including plant-pathogenic bacteria. The chemical control options to cope with bacterial diseases in agriculture are limited, predominantly relying on copper-based products. These compounds, however, possess limited efficacy. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel technologies to manage bacterial plant diseases and reduce food loss. In this study, a new antimicrobial agent was developed using a doping method that entraps small bioactive organic molecules inside copper as the metal matrix. The food preservative agent lauroyl arginate ethyl ester (ethyl lauroyl arginate; LAE) was chosen as the doped organic compound. The new composites were termed LAE@[Cu]. Bactericidal assays against Acidovorax citrulli, a severe plant pathogen, revealed that LAE and copper in the composites possess a synergistic interaction as compared with each component individually. LAE@[Cu] composites were further characterised in terms of chemical properties and in planta assays demonstrated their potential for further development as crop protection agents.

Future of Bacterial Disease Management in Crop Production

Bacterial diseases are a constant threat to crop production globally. Current management strategies rely on an array of tactics, including improved cultural practices; application of bactericides, plant activators, and biocontrol agents; and use of resistant varieties when available. However, effective management remains a challenge, as the longevity of deployed tactics is threatened by constantly changing bacterial populations. Increased scrutiny of the impact of pesticides on human and environmental health underscores the need for alternative solutions that are durable, sustainable, accessible to farmers, and environmentally friendly. In this review, we discuss the strengths and shortcomings of existing practices and dissect recent advances that may shape the future of bacterial disease management. We conclude that disease resistance through genome modification may be the most effective arsenal against bacterial diseases. Nonetheless, more research is necessary for developing novel bacterial disease management tactics to meet the food demand of a growing global population.

Novel Small Molecule Growth Inhibitors of Xanthomonas spp. Causing Bacterial Spot of Tomato

Bacterial spot (BS) of tomato, caused by Xanthomonas gardneri, X. perforans, X. vesicatoria, and X. euvesicatoria, is difficult to control because of the high prevalence of copper- and streptomycin-resistant strains and the lack of resistance cultivars and effective bactericides. The objective of this study was to identify novel growth inhibitors of BS-causing Xanthomonas (BS-X) species by using small molecules (SM; n = 4,182). Several SMs (X1, X2, X5, X9, X12, and X16) completely inhibited the growth of BS-X isolates (n = 68 X. gardneri, 55 X. perforans, 4 X. vesicatoria, and 32 X. euvesicatoria) at ≥12.5 µM by disrupting Xanthomonas cell integrity through weakening of the cell membrane and formation of pores. These SMs were also effective against biofilm-embedded, copper- and streptomycin-resistant Xanthomonas strains while having minimal impact on other plant pathogenic (n = 20) and beneficial bacteria (n = 12). Furthermore, these SMs displayed equivalent antimicrobial activity against BS-X in seeds and X. gardneri in seedlings compared with conventional control methods (copper sulfate and streptomycin) at similar concentrations while having no detectable toxicity to tomato tissues. SMs X2, X5, and X12 reduced X. gardneri, X. perforans, X. vesicatoria, and X. euvesicatoria populations in artificially infested seeds ≤3.4-log CFU/seed 1 day postinfection (dpi) compared with the infested untreated control (P ≤ 0.05). SMs X1, X2, X5, and X12 reduced disease severity ≤72% and engineered bioluminescent X. gardneri populations ≤3.0-log CFU/plant in infected seedlings at 7 dpi compared with the infected untreated control (P ≤ 0.05). Additional studies are needed to increase the applicability of these SMs for BS management in tomato production.

Evaluation of a Small-Molecule Compound, N-Acetylcysteine, for the Management of Bacterial Spot of Tomato Caused by Copper-Resistant Xanthomonas perforans

Bacterial spot caused by Xanthomonas spp. is one of the major diseases in tomato. Xanthomonas perforans is the main pathogen of bacterial spot on tomato in Florida. Currently, application of copper fungicides is the primary measure used to manage this disease. However, the development of copper resistance in X. perforans and accumulation of copper in the environment are major concerns for excessive use of copper-based products in agriculture. Due to its antibacterial properties and low environmental impact, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a small molecule commonly used in medicine for human bacterial diseases, has been studied in agriculture for the control of plant bacterial pathogens, including X. citri and Xylella fastidiosa. This study evaluated the effect of NAC alone and in combination with copper on a copper-resistant X. perforans strain in vitro and its ability to control bacterial spot of tomato under greenhouse and field conditions. In vitro, the minimum inhibitory concentration of NAC against the X. perforans strain was 2,048 mg liter^-1. NAC increased sensitivity of the copper-resistant X. perforans to copper in vitro when application of NAC was followed by copper application after 6 h. In greenhouse assays, NAC applied alone or in combination with copper significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the disease severity of bacterial spot on tomato compared with the untreated control. NAC at 100 mg liter^-1 + copper at 300 mg liter^-1 consistently exhibited synergistic effects against bacterial spot. In the field trials, NAC at 1,000 mg liter^-1 + copper at 150 mg liter^-1 significantly reduced disease severity compared with the untreated control. Results from this study demonstrated that NAC significantly reduced the disease severity of bacterial spot of tomato and enhanced the efficacy of copper against copper-resistant X. perforans, indicating that NAC could be applied for the effective management of bacterial spot of tomato.

Discovery and Characterization of Low-Molecular Weight Inhibitors of Erwinia tracheiphila

Plant pathogenic bacteria in the genus Erwinia cause economically important diseases, including bacterial wilt of cucurbits caused by Erwinia tracheiphila. Conventional bactericides are insufficient to control this disease. Using high-throughput screening, 464 small molecules (SMs) with either cidal or static activity at 100 µM against a cucumber strain of E. tracheiphila were identified. Among them, 20 SMs (SM1 to SM20), composed of nine distinct chemical moiety structures, were cidal to multiple E. tracheiphila strains at 100 µM. These lead SMs had low toxicity to human cells and honey bees at 100 µM. No phytotoxicity was observed on melon plants at 100 µM, except when SM12 was either mixed with Silwet L-77 and foliar sprayed or when delivered through the roots. Lead SMs did not inhibit the growth of beneficial Pseudomonas and Enterobacter species but inhibited the growth of Bacillus species. Nineteen SMs were cidal to Xanthomonas cucurbitae and showed >50% growth inhibition against Pseudomonas syringae pv. lachrymans. In addition, 19 SMs were cidal or static against Erwinia amylovora in vitro. Five SMs demonstrated potential to suppress E. tracheiphila when foliar sprayed on melon plants at 2× the minimum bactericidal concentration. Thirteen SMs reduced Et load in melon plants when delivered via roots. Temperature and light did not affect the activity of SMs. In vitro cidal activity was observed after 3 to 10 h of exposure to these five SMs. Here, we report 19 SMs that provide chemical scaffolds for future development of bactericides against plant pathogenic bacterial species.

Synergistic effect of Cordia curassavica Jacq. essential oils association against the phytopathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris

The increased use of pesticides applied to treat diseases caused by bacteria has caused serious environmental problems. There are few fungicides/bactericides for the treatment of plant diseases caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc), and only two natural products with general bactericidal/fungicidal use are available on the market. Thus, this study evaluated the antimicrobial activity of essential oils (EOs), and their combinations, from five distinct genotypes of Cordia curassavica (Jacq.) Roem. & Schult (Syn. Varronia curassavica Jacq.) (CCUR) against Xcc. GC/MS chemical analysis revealed α-pinene, sabinene, (E)-caryophyllene, ar-curcumene, β-sesquiphellandrene, 7-cyclodecen-1-one, and ar-Turmerone as the major compounds of the five EOs of CCUR. All EOs showed growth inhibition of Xcc with minimum inhibitory concentration between 500 and 1000 μg mL^-1. The associations between two EOs from different CCUR genotypes showed that 70% of the total combinations had an additive effect. However, the combinations between CCUR-002 × (-302, -202) and CCUR-302 × (-601) showed a synergistic effect, with mean fractional inhibitory concentration FIC₅₀ values of 0.28, 0.42, and 0.40, respectively. This study demonstrates that combinations of C. curassavica EOs have antimicrobial activity and a potential to be used in the control of black rot. Graphical abstract.

Chumacin-1 and Chumacin-2 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain CGK-KS-1 as novel quorum sensing signaling inhibitors for biocontrol of bacterial blight of rice

The in vitro inhibition of quorum sensing signal, xanthan gum secretion, biofilm formation in different Xanthomonas pathovars and biological control of bacterial blight of rice by the two bioactive extrolites produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain CGK-KS-1 were explored. These extrolites were extracted from Diaion HP-20 resin with methanol and purified by preparative-thin layer chromatography. Further, spectroscopic structural elucidation revealed the tentative identity of these extrolites to be (R,3E,5E,9Z,11E)-13-((3S,5R)-5-acetyl-2,6-dimethylheptan-3-yl)-10-hydroxy-4-methyl-1,8-diazabicyclo[9.3.1]pentadeca-3,5,9,11(15),13-pentaen-2-one and (R,3E,5E,8E,11E)-13-((3S,5R)-5-acetyl-2,6-dimethylheptan-3-yl)-4-methyl-1,8-diazabicyclo[9.3.1]pentadeca-3,5,8,11(15),13-pentaene-2,10-dione, named as Chumacin-1 and Chumacin-2, respectively. Antimicrobial assay showed Chumacin-1 and Chumacin-2 exhibited a strong in vitro growth inhibition against various Xanthomonas pathovars. Quorum sensing overlay assay using a reporter strain Chromobacterium violaceum strain CV026 showed that Chumacin-1 and Chumacin-2 inhibited quorum sensing signaling. The mechanistic studies revealed that these extrolites inhibited the production of quorum sensing signaling factor, cis-11-methyl-2-dodecenoic acid; suppressed the xanthan gum secretion and also inhibited the biofilms formed by various Xanthomonas pathovars. Both Chumacin-1 and Chumacin-2 showed ROS generation in the test Xanthomonas strains, resulting in in vitro cell membrane damage was revealed through CSLM and FE-SEM micrographs. Further, greenhouse experiments using Samba Mashuri (BPT-5204) revealed that seed treatment with Chumacin-1 and Chumacin-2 along with foliar spray groups showed up to ˜80% reduction in bacterial blight disease in rice. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on new quorum sensing inhibitors, Chumacin-1 and Chumacin-2 produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain CGK-KS-1 exhibiting DSF inhibition activity in Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae.

Antimicrobial random peptide cocktails: a new approach to fight pathogenic bacteria

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria has become a serious threat to public health, and therefore there is an urgent need to develop new classes of antimicrobial agents. Nowadays, natural antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and their synthetic derivatives are considered as promising alternatives to traditional antibiotics. The broad molecular diversity of AMPs, in terms of sequences and structures, suggests that their activity does not depend on specific features of amino acid sequence or peptide conformation. We therefore selected two common properties of AMPs, (high percentage of hydrophobic and cationic amino acids), to develop a novel approach to synthesize random antimicrobial peptide mixtures (RPMs). Instead of incorporating a single amino acid at each coupling step, a mixture of hydrophobic and cationic amino acids in a defined proportion is coupled. This results in a mixture that contains up to 2n sequences, where n is the number of the coupling step, of random peptides with a defined composition, stereochemistry, and controlled chain length. We have discovered that RPMs of hydrophobic and cationic α-amino acids, such as phenylalanine and lysine, display strong and broad antimicrobial activity towards Gram-negative, Gram-positive, clinically isolated antibiotic resistant "superbugs", and several plant pathogenic bacteria. This review summarizes our efforts to explore the mode of action of RPMs and their potential as bioactive agents for multiple applications, including the prevention of biofilm formation and degradation of mature biofilm (related to human health), reduction of disease severity in plant bacterial disease models (related to crop protection), and inhibition of bacterial growth in milk (related to food preservation). All our findings illustrate the effectiveness of RPMs and their great potential for various applications.

Random peptide mixtures as new crop protection agents

Many types of crops are severely affected by at least one important bacterial disease. Chemical control of bacterial plant diseases in the field vastly relies on copper-based bactericides, yet with limited efficacy. In this study, we explored the potential of two random peptide mixture (RPM) models as novel crop protection agents. These unique peptide mixtures consist of random combination of l-phenylalanine and l- or d-lysine (FK-20 and FdK-20, respectively) along the 20 mer chain length of the peptides. Both RPMs displayed powerful bacteriostatic and bactericidal activities towards strains belonging to several plant pathogenic bacterial genera, for example, Xanthomonas, Clavibacter and Pseudomonas. In planta studies in the glasshouse revealed that RPMs significantly reduced disease severity of tomato and kohlrabi plants infected with Xanthomonas perforans and Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris respectively. Moreover, RPM effects on reduction in disease severity were similar to those exerted by the commercial copper-based bactericide Kocide 2000 that was applied at a 12-fold higher concentration of the active compound relative to the RPM treatments. Importantly, the two tested RPM compounds had no toxic effect on survival of bees and Caco-2 mammalian cells. This study demonstrates the potential of these innovative RPMs to serve as crop protection agents against crop diseases caused by phytopathogenic bacteria.

Population Dynamics of Xanthomonads Associated with Bacterial Spot of Tomato and Pepper during 27 Years across Taiwan

Bacterial spot caused by Xanthomonas spp. is the second most important bacterial disease after bacterial wilt of tomato and pepper in Taiwan. To determine the species composition of the Xanthomonas population over 27 years (1989 to 2016) across the country, a large collections of strains from tomato (n = 292) and pepper (n = 198) were examined. In the 1989 to 1999 population, all strains (n = 147) from pepper and 95% strains (n = 198) from tomato were Xanthomonas euvesicatoria. The remaining 5% of strains from tomato were X. vesicatoria. In a 2000 to 2009 population from tomato (n = 36), 22% of the strains were X. perforans and the remaining 78% strains were X. euvesicatoria. In the 2010 to 2016 population, 92% of the strains (n = 50) from pepper were still X. euvesicatoria and the remaining 8% of the strains were X. perforans; however, 99% (n = 58) of the strains from tomato were X. perforans. All of the evaluated (n = 25) strains of X. euvesicatoria collected during 1990 to 2006 were tomato race T1. Four pepper races (P1, P2, P7, and P8) were identified in the X. euvesicatoria population. The strains of X. vesicatoria collected during 1989 to 1999 (n = 8) were tomato race T2 and strains of X. perforans from tomato collected during 2010 to 2016 (n = 12) were race T4 (83%) and race T3 (17%). Four strains of X. perforans from pepper were race T4. All of the strains of X. vesicatoria and X. perforans caused a hypersensitive response in all pepper differentials. Biochemical characterization of representative strains (n = 48) showed that strains of X. euvesicatoria were negative on and amylolytic test and positive on lipase and oxidative-fermentative (OF) tests. The strains of X. vesicatoria were positive on amylolytic and OF tests and were negative on the lipase test. All X. perforans strains showed positive reactions on three tests. Evaluation of the same 48 strains for the sensitivity to copper sulfate (50, 100, 200, 300, and 400 mg liter^-1) revealed that the majority of X. euvesicatoria (86%) and X. perforans (94%) strains in the 2010 to 2016 population were tolerant to copper sulfate. The findings suggest that management strategies and breeding programs should consider the new X. perforans species and their new races. The increased number of copper-sulfate-tolerant strains in the 2010 to 2016 population further shows the need for alternative options to copper for managing bacterial spot of tomato and pepper.

Anti-biofilm and anti-virulence potential of 3,7-dimethyloct-6-enal derived from Citrus hystrix against bacterial blight of rice caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae

The present investigation for the first time explains the anti biofilm and anti virulence potential of Kaffir lime oil (KLO) and its major constituent, Citronellal (3,7-dimethyloct-6-enal) against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, causal organism of bacterial blight disease of rice. KLO at 500 ppm showed potential activity against X. oryzae pv. oryzae. Among the major components identified, citronellal (CIT) at 75 μM concentration was found to significantly inhibit biofilm along with the swimming and swarming potential of X. oryzae pv. oryzae. In contrary, CIT did not affect the metabolic status and growth kinetics of the bacterial cells. Gene expression analysis showed down regulation in motA, cheD, cheY, flgF, gumC, xylanase, endogluconase, cellulose, cellobiosidase, virulence and rpfF transcript levels by citronellal treatment. However, an insignificant effect of 75 μM CIT treatment was observed on motB, flgE, pilA, estY, pglA, protease and lytic genes expression. Finally, the observations recorded were in confirmity with the virulence leaf clip test as lesion length was significantly decreased (39%) in CIT treatment as compared to the control leaves inoculated with only X. oryzae pv. oryzae. Overall, the findings obtained advocate the use of CIT for promising anti biofilm and anti virulence activity which in turn can be used for managing the blight disease in rice.

Bacterial disease management: challenges, experience, innovation and future prospects: Challenges in Bacterial Molecular Plant Pathology

Plant diseases caused by bacterial pathogens place major constraints on crop production and cause significant annual losses on a global scale. The attainment of consistent effective management of these diseases can be extremely difficult, and management potential is often affected by grower reliance on highly disease-susceptible cultivars because of consumer preferences, and by environmental conditions favouring pathogen development. New and emerging bacterial disease problems (e.g. zebra chip of potato) and established problems in new geographical regions (e.g. bacterial canker of kiwifruit in New Zealand) grab the headlines, but the list of bacterial disease problems with few effective management options is long. The ever-increasing global human population requires the continued stable production of a safe food supply with greater yields because of the shrinking areas of arable land. One major facet in the maintenance of the sustainability of crop production systems with predictable yields involves the identification and deployment of sustainable disease management solutions for bacterial diseases. In addition, the identification of novel management tactics has also come to the fore because of the increasing evolution of resistance to existing bactericides. A number of central research foci, involving basic research to identify critical pathogen targets for control, novel methodologies and methods of delivery, are emerging that will provide a strong basis for bacterial disease management into the future. Near-term solutions are desperately needed. Are there replacement materials for existing bactericides that can provide effective disease management under field conditions? Experience should inform the future. With prior knowledge of bactericide resistance issues evolving in pathogens, how will this affect the deployment of newer compounds and biological controls? Knowledge is critical. A comprehensive understanding of bacterial pathosystems is required to not only identify optimal targets in the pathogens, but also optimal seasonal timings for deployment. Host resistance to effectors must be exploited, carefully and correctly. Are there other candidate genes that could be targeted in transgenic approaches? How can new technologies (CRISPR, TALEN, etc.) be most effectively used to add sustainable disease resistance to existing commercially desirable plant cultivars? We need an insider's perspective on the management of systemic pathogens. In addition to host resistance or reduced sensitivity, are there other methods that can be used to target these pathogen groups? Biological systems are variable. Can biological control strategies be improved for bacterial disease management and be made more predictable in function? The answers to the research foci outlined above are not all available, as will become apparent in this article, but we are heading in the right direction. In this article, we summarize the contributions from past experiences in bacterial disease management, and also describe how advances in bacterial genetics, genomics and host-pathogen interactions are informing novel strategies in virulence inhibition and in host resistance. We also outline potential innovations that could be exploited as the pressures to maximize a safe and productive food supply continue to become more numerous and more complex.

Low Concentrations of a Silver-Based Nanocomposite to Manage Bacterial Spot of Tomato in the Greenhouse

Bacterial spot, caused by four Xanthomonas spp., is one of the most damaging diseases of tomato worldwide. Due to limited disease management options, growers rely heavily on copper-based bactericides, which are often ineffective due to the presence of copper-resistant Xanthomonas strains. This study was undertaken to characterize the antibacterial activity of a silver-based nanocomposite, Ag-dsDNA-GO, and its potential as an alternative to copper. Ag-dsDNA-GO at rates as low as 10 μg/ml killed all bacterial cells of copper-tolerant and -sensitive Xanthomonas perforans strains in suspensions containing approximately 10³ CFU/ml within 15 min of exposure in vitro, whereas equivalent rates of copper (10, 25, and 50 μg/ml) were unable to significantly reduce populations compared with the untreated control after 24 h of exposure (P = 0.05). All copper concentrations killed the copper-sensitive X. perforans strain but required exposure for ≥1 h. Ag-dsDNA-GO also exhibited antibacterial activity against copper-tolerant X. vesicatoria, X. euvesicatoria, and X. gardneri strains. In greenhouse studies, tomato plants treated with Ag-dsDNA-GO at either 75 or 100 μg/ml prior to artificial inoculation significantly reduced disease severity when compared with copper-mancozeb and negative controls (P = 0.05). This study highlights the potential of Ag-dsDNA-GO as an alternative to copper in tomato transplant production.

Bacterial spot of tomato and pepper: diverse Xanthomonas species with a wide variety of virulence factors posing a worldwide challenge

TAXONOMIC STATUS

Bacteria; Phylum Proteobacteria; Class Gammaproteobacteria; Order Xanthomonadales; Family Xanthomonadaceae; Genus Xanthomonas; Species Xanthomonas euvesicatoria, Xanthomonas vesicatoria, Xanthomonas perforans and Xanthomonas gardneri.

MICROBIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium, aerobic, motile, single polar flagellum.

HOST RANGE

Causes bacterial spot disease on plants belonging to the Solanaceae family, primarily tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), pepper (Capsicum annuum) and chilli peppers (Capsicum frutescens).

DISEASE SYMPTOMS

Necrotic lesions on all above-ground plant parts.

DISTRIBUTION

Worldwide distribution of X. euvesicatoria and X. vesicatoria on tomato and pepper; X. perforans and X. gardneri increasingly being isolated from the USA, Canada, South America, Africa and Europe. A wide diversity within the bacterial spot disease complex, with an ability to cause disease at different temperatures, makes this pathogen group a worldwide threat to tomato and pepper production. Recent advances in genome analyses have revealed the evolution of the pathogen with a plethora of novel virulence factors. Current management strategies rely on the use of various chemical control strategies and sanitary measures to minimize pathogen spread through contaminated seed. Chemical control strategies have been a challenge because of resistance by the pathogen. Breeding programmes have been successful in developing commercial lines with hypersensitive and quantitative resistance. However, durability of resistance has been elusive. Recently, a transgenic approach has resulted in the development of tomato genotypes with significant levels of resistance and improved yield that hold promise. In this article, we discuss the current taxonomic status, distribution of the four species, knowledge of virulence factors, detection methods and strategies for disease control with possible directions for future research.

Occurrence of copper-resistant strains and a shift in Xanthomonas spp. causing tomato bacterial spot in Ontario

Field strains of tomato bacterial spot pathogen (Xanthomonas euvesicatoria, X. vesicatoria, X. perforans, and X. gardneri) were characterized for sensitivity to copper and species composition. A total of 98 strains were isolated from symptomatic leaf and fruit samples collected from 18 tomato fields in Ontario. In greenhouse pathogenicity tests, most of the field strains caused severe (37 strains) to highly severe (23 strains) symptoms on 'Bonny Best' tomato plants, whereas 38 strains caused moderate symptoms. In MGY agar plates amended with various concentrations of copper sulfate, 11 strains were completely sensitive (no growth) and 87 strains were resistant (grew on 1.0 mmol/L or higher copper concentration). PCR analysis of the hrp gene cluster followed by restriction digestion with HaeIII and sequencing identified X. gardneri (35 strains) and X. perforans (26 strains) as predominant species and X. euvesicatoria and X. vesicatoria as less common species in Ontario tomato fields. Separation of field strains into various species was also confirmed with starch hydrolysis activity on agar medium. Moreover, 72 field strains produced shiny greenish-yellow colonies surrounded by a milky zone on xanthomonad differential (Xan-D) medium, and the colonies of 26 strains did not produce a milky zone. Thirty-four strains could not be clustered into any species and 25 of those strains were negative for the hrp gene PCR and also did not produce a milky zone around colonies on Xan-D medium. Our results suggest a widespread existence of copper-resistant strains and an increase in X. perforans strains of bacterial spot pathogen in Ontario. This information on copper resistance and species composition within bacterial spot pathogens in Ontario will be helpful for developing effective disease management strategies, making cultivar selection, and breeding new tomato cultivars.

Foliar application of biofilm formation-inhibiting compounds enhances control of citrus canker caused by Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri

Citrus canker caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri is an economically important disease of citrus worldwide. Biofilm formation plays an important role in early infection of X. citri subsp. citri on host leaves. In this study, we assessed the hypothesis that small molecules inhibiting biofilm formation reduce X. citri subsp. citri infection and enhance the control of citrus canker disease. D-leucine and 3-indolylacetonitrile (IAN) were found to prevent biofilm formation by X. citri subsp. citri on different abiotic surfaces and host leaves at a concentration lower than the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis indicated that IAN repressed expression of chemotaxis/motility-related genes in X. citri subsp. citri. In laboratory experiments, planktonic and biofilm cells of X. citri subsp. citri treated with D-leucine and IAN, either alone or in combination, were more susceptible to copper (CuSO4) than those untreated. In greenhouse assays, D-leucine and IAN applied alone or combined with copper reduced both the number of canker lesions and bacterial populations of X. citri subsp. citri on citrus host leaves. This study provides the basis for the use of foliar-applied biofilm inhibitors for the control of citrus canker alone or combined with copper-based bactericides.