Opportunistic Colonization of Ralstonia solanacearum-Infected Plants by Acinetobacter sp. and Its Natural Competence Development

• Published in: Microbial ecology Vol. 43; no. 3; pp. 291 - 297
• Main Authors: Kay, E., F. Bertolla, T. M. Vogel, P. Simonet
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Springer-Verlag New York Inc 01-04-2002; Springer; Springer Verlag
• Subjects: Acinetobacter; Alcaligenes; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Bacteria; Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; Ecology, environment; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Infections; Inoculation; Life Sciences; Lycopersicon esculentum - microbiology; Microbial ecology; Microbiology; Microbiology and Parasitology; Microflora of plants; Plant roots; Plant Roots - microbiology; Plant tissues; Plants; Plasmids; Population Dynamics; Ralstonia solanacearum; Soil bacteria; Soil Microbiology; Symbiosis; Systematics; Plant tissue; Plant pathogen; Root; Ralstonia solanacearum; Neisseriaceae; Injection; Tomato; Stem; Infection; Soils; Plant; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Lycopersicon esculentum; Development; Bacteria; Micrococcales; Acinetobacter; Spermatophyta; Solanaceae; Behavior; Colonization
• ISSN: 0095-3628; 1432-184X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00248-002-2007-y

The behavior of the soil bacterium Acinetobacter sp. BD413 was monitored in Ralstonia solanacearum-infected and non-infected tomato plants after direct injection into the stem or natural infection by roots. In healthy plants, Acinetobacter sp. BD413 failed to colonize plant tissue. In plants infected simultaneously by the pathogen R. solanacearum, the Acinetobacter population increased linearly to about 3.1× 107cells per gram plant material and was maintained at a high level until the death of the plant. Moreover, Acinetobacter sp. BD413 was found to develop a competent state when multiplying in planta, indicating it could possibly be transformed by bacterial or plant DNA.