Real-time monitoring of Ralstonia solanacearum infection progress in tomato and Arabidopsis using bioluminescence imaging technology

Abstract

Background Ralstonia solanacearum, one of the most devastating bacterial plant pathogens, is the causal agent of bacterial wilt. Recently, several studies on resistance to bacterial wilt have been conducted using the Arabidopsis-R. solanacearum system. However, the progress of R. solanacearum infection in Arabidopsis is still unclear. Results We generated a bioluminescent R. solanacearum by expressing plasmid-based luxCDABE. Expression of luxCDABE did not alter the bacterial growth and pathogenicity. The light intensity of bioluminescent R. solanacearum was linearly related to bacterial concentrations from 104 to 108 CFU·mL−1. After root inoculation with bioluminescent R. solanacearum strain, light signals in tomato and Arabidopsis were found to be transported from roots to stems via the vasculature. Quantification of light intensity from the bioluminescent strain accurately reported the difference in disease resistance between Arabidopsis wild type and resistant mutants. Conclusions Bioluminescent R. solanacearum strain spatially and quantitatively measured bacterial growth in tomato and Arabidopsis, and offered a tool for the high-throughput study of R. solanacearum-Arabidopsis interaction in the future.

An avirulent Ralstonia solanacearum strain FJAT1458 outcompetes with virulent strain and induces tomato plant resistance against bacterial wilt

“…Bacterial wilt, caused by R. solanacearum, is one of the most devastating bacterial diseases worldwide. 44 Use of nonpathogenic mutants of pathogens as biocontrol agents have been studied for decades. 11 The avirulent strain FJAT1458 is a potential biocontrol agent of BW.…”

Quantifying bacterial concentration in water and sand media during flow-through experiments using a non-invasive, real-time, and efficient method

“…A schematic diagram describing this relationship is shown in Figure 3B. Numerous studies showed a linear or near-linear relationship between the bacterial concentration in water and the bioluminescence intensity (Bozorg et al, 2015;Xu et al, 2022). However, we extended the linear relation to bacteria enumeration in sand media.…”

Genome Sequence of Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum SL1931, a Causal Phytopathogen of Bacterial Wilt Disease in Capsicum annuum and Nicotiana benthamiana

“… Ralstonia solanacearum , which is the causal pathogen of bacterial wilt disease, infects more than 250 plant species, most of which belong to the Solanaceae family, including pepper, tobacco, tomato, and potato ( 1 , 2 ). R. solanacearum invades the xylem vessels through plant root hairs and disseminates into the stem, where it multiplies and causes wilting by blocking water transport and producing excessive exopolysaccharides ( 3 ).…”