Mechanism of mutual recognition between plants and epiphytic bacteria

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25660060
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Applied microbiology
• Research Institution: Okayama University
• Principal Investigator: TANI Akio 岡山大学, その他部局等, 准教授 (00335621)
• Research Collaborator: VORHOLT Julia A. チューリッヒ工科大学(スイス連邦), 教授
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 植物・微生物相互作用

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The epiphytic bacterial symbionts, Sphingomonas and Methylobacterium species inhabit in the phyllosphere without causing any harmful effect on plants. Sphingomonas species are known to protect plants against pathogenic bacteria. This study investigated how plants recognize Sphingomonas species, and the mechanism of antagonistic effect. Cells, flagella, and flagellin peptides from Sphingomonas species evoked immunity reactions in plants, suggesting the involvement of flagellin sensing in plants. It was also found that Sphingomonas species directly antagonize pathogenic bacteria by producing unknown substances that may be involved in iron acquisition.

Free Research Field

応用微生物学