Colonization and movement of GFP-labeled Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis during tomato infection

The vascular pathogen Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis is responsible for bacterial wilt and canker of tomato. Pathogenicity of this bacterium is dependent on plasmid-borne virulence factors and serine proteases located on the chromosomal chp/tomA pathogenicity island (PAI). In this study, colonization patterns and movement of C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis during tomato infection was examined using a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled strain. A plasmid expressing GFP in C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis was constructed and found to be stable in planta for at least 1 month. Confocal laser-scanning microscopy (CLSM) of inoculated stems showed that the pathogen extensively colonizes the lumen of xylem vessels and preferentially attaches to spiral secondary wall thickening of the protoxylem. Acropetal movement of the wild-type strain C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis NCPPB382 (Cmm382) in tomato resulted in an extensive systemic colonization of the whole plant reaching the apical region after 15 days, whereas Cmm100 (lacking the plasmids pCM1 and pCM2) or Cmm27 (lacking the chp/tomA PAI) remained confined to the area surrounding of the inoculation site. Cmm382 formed biofilm-like structures composed of large bacterial aggregates on the interior of xylem walls as observed by CLSM and scanning electron microscopy. These findings suggest that virulence factors located on the chp/tomA PAI or the plasmids are required for effective movement of the pathogen in tomato and for the formation of cellular aggregates.     

Survival of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis in tomato debris under greenhouse conditions

Bacterial canker, caused by Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis, is one of the most important diseases of tomato worldwide. Once the pathogen has been introduced into an area, i.e. by contaminated seeds or transplants, it survives mainly on host debris. In different geographic areas the survival time of the pathogen in crop residues under field conditions has been very variable, ranging from 2 months in Morocco to 2 years in Iowa (USA). This study took place in the horticultural belt of Buenos Aires – La Plata, Argentina, where greenhouse production prevails, and monoculture with two production cycles per year is a common practice. The aim was to determine the survival time of this pathogen in plant residues left on the soil surface or buried. During three consecutive years, by the end of both production cycles in July (winter) and December (summer), above‐ (stem, petiole) and belowground (root) tissues were placed into nylon netting bags and left on the soil surface or buried at 10 cm depth. The pathogen population was regularly quantified by dilution plating on semiselective medium. In host debris left on the soil surface, bacteria survived 120–260 days for crop production cycles that ended in winter and 45–75 days for those that ended in summer. In stems or roots buried in winter, this period was 45–75 days. It is concluded that host debris, including roots, might be an important primary inoculum source of the pathogen in greenhouses.     

Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus

Specific scope

This standard describes a national regulatory control system for Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus that provides guidance on surveillance for the pathogen and its containment and eradication if found.

Specific approval and amendment

First approved in 2003–09. Revision approved in 2011–09.     

Effects of plant age on disease development and virulence of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis on tomato

The effect of plant age at the time of inoculation on the severity of bacterial wilt and canker disease caused by Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm) was examined in six greenhouse experiments. The period during which inoculations led to wilt and death of tomato plants was defined. This period, designated ‘window of vulnerability’, ranged from transplanting to the 17‐ to 18‐leaf stage. Plants inoculated after this period expressed disease symptoms but did not wilt or die. No significant changes in disease incidence were observed when leaves of different ages were inoculated. Yield accumulation was significantly reduced in plants inoculated within the window of vulnerability compared with those inoculated after this period. Expression of virulence genes, viz. celA, encoding a secreted cellulase, and the serine protease‐encoding pat‐1, chpC and ppaA, was induced during the early stages after inoculation in plants inoculated within the window of vulnerability. Differences in Cmm population between plants inoculated within and outside of this period were insignificant after the first week post‐inoculation, indicating that differences in disease severity, yield loss and expression of virulence determinants are not correlated with Cmm population level. Results suggest that implementation of precautionary measures during the window of vulnerability to avoid secondary spread of Cmm will have a season‐long effect on plant mortality and may minimize, or even prevent, yield losses.     

Effect of phytotoxic compounds produced by Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis on resistant and susceptible tomato plants

A phytotoxic fraction of high molecular weight was isolated from the culture filtrate ofClavibacter michiganensis subsp.michiganensis, the causal agent of bacterial canker of tomato, and partly purified. This high molecular weight fraction consists of sugars and a minor protein moiety and is therefore probably of similar nature to that of the toxin fromC. michiganensis subsp.michiganensis reported earlier in literature.The high molecular weight fraction was albe to induce wilting, the predominant symptom of the disease, as shown in a bioassay with tomato cuttings. However, this wilting reaction turned out to be non-specific in the bioassay, since (partially) resistant and susceptible genotypes responded similarly. No correlation could be found between the degree of virulence of fiveC. michiganensis subsp.michiganensis strains and the amount of the phytotoxic high molecular weight fraction produced in vitro.As the isolated high molecular weight fraction showed a phytotoxic effect on tomato plants it is worthwhile to test its potential for use as a selective agent in in vitro selection.Samenvatting Een fytotoxische fractie werd geïsoleerd uit cultuurfiltraat vanClavibacter michiganensis subsp.michiganensis, de veroorzaker van de bacterieverwelkingsziekte bij tomaat. Een eerste karakterisering toonde aan dat deze toxische fractie hoog-moleculaire component(en) bevat, bestaande uit polysacchariden en een gering percentage eiwit. Dit is in overeenstemming met toxines vanC. michiganensis subsp.michiganensis die al eerder beschreven zijn.Deze hoogmoleculaire toxische fractie was in staat verwelking te induceren van stengeltoppen van verschillendeLycopersicon esculentum enL. peruvianum genotypen in een bioassay. Gewichtsverandering van de stengeltoppen, uitgedrukt als percentage ten opzichte van het begingewicht, werd gebruikt als parameter voor verwelking. De toxische fractie reageerde niet-specifiek in de bioassay, want er werd geen verschil gevonden in respons van (partieel) resistente en gevoelige genotypen. Er bleek geen correlatie te zijn tussen de mate van virulentie van verschillende isolaten vanC. michiganensis subsp.michiganensis en de hoeveelheid van de toxische fractie geproduceerd in vitro.Het mogelijke gebruik van deze hoogmoleculaire toxische fractie als selectief agens bij in vitro selectie zal nader onderzocht worden.     

Detection of Clavibacter michiganensis ssp. michiganensis in tomato seeds by immunofluorescence microscopy and dilution plating

A method for detectingClavibacter michiganensis ssp.michiganensis in tomato seeds was evaluated. The method is based on rapid screening of tomato seed lots using indirect immunofluorescence staining (IF), followed by dilution plating of IF positive seed lots. Different polyclonal antisera, prepared againstC. michiganensis ssp.michiganensis were tested for their specificity using IF. All strains ofC. michiganensis ssp.michiganensis tested reacted with the polyclonal antisera. Two of nine saprophytic isolates from tomato seeds were positive with the antisera as well as with the control normal serum, but cells of these isolates were distinct in shape from cells ofC. michiganensis ssp.michiganensis.For extraction of the pathogen from the seed, seeds were either blended with a stomacher or soaked at 4–6 °C. The stomacher method yielded more fluorescent cells in IF than 24 h soaking of seed samples. However, soaking of seeds for 48 h generally yielded less saprophytes and overall higher numbers ofC. michiganensis ssp.michiganensis colonies in dilution plating when compared to blending by a stomacher. SCM medium was generally more selective than KBT and modified CNS medium. However, the efficacy of the medium was dependent on the seed lot and/or extraction method used. Confirmation of suspected colonies with YDC (yeast-dextrose-carbonate medium), IF and a pathogenicity test on tomato seedlings proved to be highly reliable (P>0.95). For routine testing of seed lots it is recommended to screen tomato seed lost after soaking seeds for 24 h at 4–6 °C with IF, followed by plating of IF-positive seed lots on modified CNS and SCM after soaking seeds for an additional 24 h.     

Colonization of tomato seedlings by bioluminescent Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis under different humidity regimes

Tomato bacterial canker, caused by Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis, is transmitted by infected or infested seed and mechanically from plant to plant. Wounds occurring during seedling production and crop maintenance facilitate the dissemination of the pathogen. However, the effects of environmental factors on C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis translocation and growth as an endophyte have not been fully elucidated. A virulent, stable, constitutively bioluminescent C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis strain BL-Cmm 17 coupled with an in vivo imaging system allowed visualization of the C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis colonization process in tomato seedlings in real time. The dynamics of bacterial infection in seedlings through wounds were compared under low (45%) and high (83%) relative humidity. Bacteria multiplied rapidly in cotyledon petioles remaining after clip inoculation and moved in the stem toward both root and shoot. Luminescent signals were also observed in tomato seedling roots over time, and root development was reduced in inoculated plants maintained under both humidity regimes. Wilting was more severe in seedlings under high-humidity regimes. A strong positive correlation between light intensity and bacterial population in planta suggests that bioluminescent C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis strains will be useful in evaluating the efficacy of bactericides and host resistance.     

The significance of guttation in the secondary spread of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis in tomato greenhouses

Bacterial canker, caused by Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm), can spread in commercial tomato greenhouses causing epidemics. Results of greenhouse experiments with Cmm‐contaminated tools demonstrated disease spread for only a limited distance (<4 plants) from infected plants. However, touching symptomless infected plants bearing guttation droplets prior to touching nearby plants spread the pathogen over longer distances within rows (>22 plants). The pathogen was exuded in large numbers in the guttation fluid of infected plants; its presence in the guttation fluid was not influenced by the inoculation procedures, leaf age or the volume of the guttation droplets. Population size of Cmm and the incidence of leaflets with epiphytic bacteria were significantly higher in plants placed in a guttation‐induction chamber than in those kept in a growth chamber with high humidity, suggesting exudation through guttation contributed to the formation of epiphytic populations on leaflets. This new knowledge may provide a simple and environmentally friendly means for decreasing the spread of the disease by avoiding contact with plants during periods when they bear guttation droplets.     

A new selective medium for isolation of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis from tomato plants and seed

A new selective and highly sensitive medium was developed for isolation of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm), the causal agent of bacterial canker of tomato, from seed and latently infected plants. The new medium (BCT) proved to be superior to all published semiselective media for Cmm and is denoted as selective medium because of (i) its mean plating efficiency, amounting to ≤89% within 7 days for all 30 Cmm strains from different sources tested; (ii) the high selectivity, because accompanying bacterial species occurring on tomato plants and seed or bacteria obtained from culture collections were inhibited to an extent of 98 to 100%; and (iii) the remarkable detection sensitivity. Thus, 8 CFU of Cmm in field plant homogenates containing 12,750 CFU of accompanying saprophytes were detected on BCT. Under these extreme conditions, all of the published semiselective media (D2, KBT, D2ANX, SCM, mSCM, CMM1, mCNS, and EPPO) gave false-negative results. Either some media were rather toxic and Cmm growth was also inhibited or the other, less toxic media allowed growth of high numbers of saprophytes, so that Cmm growth was suppressed. Exclusively, BCT also supported growth of the closely related C. michiganensis subsp. insidiosus, nebraskensis, and tessellarius. The new medium is recommended for Cmm detection in tomato seed, and in symptomless tomato plantlets, to improve disease control of bacterial canker of tomato.     

Characterization of a Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis population in Israel

Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm) strains, collected during the last decade from different locations in Israel, were analyzed by macrorestriction pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Fifty-eight strains from Israel and 18 from other sources were differentiated into 11 haplotypes with either VspI or DraI restriction enzymes. The strains from Israel formed four distinct groups among which groups A (16 strains) and B (32 strains) constituted the major clusters. These two groups originated from the Besor region, which is the main area for growing tomatoes under cover. Rep-PCR, with either ERIC or BOX primers, confirmed results obtained by PFGE. PCR with primers based on three genes – ppaA, chpC and tomA – that spanned the pathogenicity island of the reference strain NCPPB382, produced the expected products with the tested pathogenic strains. Plasmid analysis of representative strains revealed different profiles of one or two plasmids. However all the strains, including five non-pathogenic ones, reacted positively in PCR with primers based on celA gene, which resides on the plasmid pCM1 of NCPPB382. Southern hybridization of total DNA with a 3.2-kb BglII-fragment of pCM1 containing the celA gene was positive when carried out with 31 strains, but the size of the reacting band was not always the same as that of pCM1, suggesting that the plasmids carrying celA may differ in size. Comparison between the colonization rates of strain Cmm42 (group A) and of Cmm32 (group B) did not show any significant differences. The high diversity of the Cmm strains, on the one hand, and the presence of two persistent groups in the Besor region, on the other hand, suggests that the primary inoculum originated each year from residual plants in the soil rather than from infested seeds, in spite of extensive control measures taken by the growers in this area.     

National control measures for Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus1

Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus has a clearly restricted geographical distribution in the EPPO region, being present almost exclusively in the north and east. Countries where it is absent take strong phytosanitary measures to prevent its introduction. Within the European Union, countries where it is present aim to eradicate the disease. The EU Control Directive for ring rot puts in place community-wide measures for surveillance, containment and eradication.     

番茄溃疡病菌的PCR-DHPLC快速检测

根据番茄溃疡病菌ITS序列,设计并合成了PCR-DHPLC检测引物,对番茄溃疡病菌及其他病菌共10个标准菌株进行了PCR-DHPLC检测。结果表明,番茄溃疡病菌的PCR-DHPLC检测图谱出现了特异性吸收峰,而其他病菌均未在相同洗脱时间出现吸收峰,说明这种方法具有检测番茄溃疡病菌的特异性。灵敏度实验结果表明,PCR-DHPLC体系与PCR-琼脂糖凝胶电泳体系的检测灵敏度一致。研究表明,PCR-DHPLC方法是一种特异、灵敏、快速的番茄溃疡病菌检测方法。     

Clavibacter michiganensis ssp. insidiosus in lucerne seeds

Bacterial wilt is a serious disease of Iucerne. Although there are several ways to transmit the pathogen, seed transmission is practically the only way to introduce the bacteria to previously free areas. In this work, naturally infected seed material and commercial seed lots have been screened by a combination of immunofluorescence (IF) staining and dilution plating. Isolates were confirmed by biochemical characterization and finally by artificial infection of lucerne seedlings. For seed lots free from the pathogen, a diagnosis can mostly be achieved within 2 days. The culture step is necessary only if IF staining is not unequivocally negative, and the full procedure has to be run only for a small portion of the samples. The proposed seed assay provides a reliable alternative to the visual inspection of lucerne fields to fulfil the phytosanitary requirements for Clavibacter michiganensis ssp. insidiosus.     

中国北方番茄细菌性溃疡病菌的rep-PCR基因指纹图谱分析

对来自全国若干省市的番茄细菌性溃疡病菌(Clavibacter michiganensis subsp.michiganensis)的33个菌株进行rep-PCR分析。结果表明,用引物BOX分别扩增出6～15条多态性条带,条带大多数集中在500～2800bp之间;用引物ERIC扩增的条带不清晰,可能是反应条件不适合,也可能是其不适合对番茄细菌性溃疡病菌进行多态性分析;BOX-PCR表明番茄细菌性溃疡病菌菌株具有丰富的遗传多态性和较大的遗传变异,对产生的指纹图谱进行分析:在遗传距离为0.18时,测试的33个菌株可划分为Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ、Ⅵ和Ⅶ等7个遗传相似组群,其中Ⅵ组群包含的菌株最多。研究还表明番茄细菌性溃疡病菌的遗传分群与菌株的地理来源关系密切,但与该病的发病年份上没有必然联系,这也从另一侧面说明了该病害是土壤带菌引起的。     

Studies on the colonization of axenically grown tomato plants by a GFP-tagged strain of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis

In this study, colonization and disease development of axenically-grown tomato plants by Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm), the causative agent of bacterial wilt and canker, was investigated. For this, a spontaneous rifampicin resistant strain of Cmm was tagged with a marker that expressed a green fluorescent protein (GFP) in a stable way and which possessed a similar virulence to the parental strain. In vitro plants were drop-inoculated at the stem base and the population dynamics was determined by dilution pour-plating in a selective medium. At 3 h after inoculation, Cmm was already present in low densities in roots, stems and leaves. At 16 dpi, Cmm was found throughout the entire plant in high densities of ca. 10¹⁰ cfu g^?1. Symptoms developed in the in vitro plants typical for Cmm, such as canker, wilting and growth reduction. The presence of Cmm in vascular and parenchymatic tissue of in vitro tomato plants was confirmed by epifluorescence stereo- and confocal laser scanning microscopy. This study showed that in vitro tomato plants can be effectively used for detailed studies on interactions between Cmm and its host, in particular if a GFP-tagged strain of the pathogen is used.     

番茄细菌性溃疡病苗期接种新方法的研究

 在剪叶、浸根和针刺等细菌病害传统接种方法基础上设计了打顶接种新方法;以番茄细菌性溃疡病菌中国菌株和美国菌株借助打顶法接种佳粉10、合作908和华南红宝石3个国内主栽番茄品种2~3片真叶期幼苗,在昼夜最低、最高温度15~18℃、32~35℃和相对湿度为30%~60%的温室条件下,打顶法接种番茄幼苗后溃疡病发病率为87.5%~100.0%,病情指数随接种菌悬液浓度提高而增大,达到23.96~82.29,3个供试品种之间表现稳定一致;剪叶、浸根和针刺接种方法的发病率普遍在40%以下,病情指数在20以下,3个供试品种之间未表现明显差异;进一步研究显示,使用选择性培养基mSCM能够从打顶法接种后的发病植株上获得培养性状与原接种体一致的分离物,专化性免疫凝聚试剂盒检测到特定的测试线,PCR扩增到614bp的特异性条带,证实该分离物为番茄细菌性溃疡病菌,发病植株为接种体侵染所致。该研究结果表明,打顶接种方法比剪叶法、针刺法和浸根法更适合用于番茄溃疡病菌的致病性测定和评价不同番茄品种苗期的抗病性,具有应用价值。     

Comparison of extraction procedures and determination of the detection threshold for Clavibacter michiganensis ssp. michiganensis in tomato seeds

Several seed extraction procedures, used for detection of Clavibacter michiganensis ssp. michiganensis ( Cmm ) in naturally infected and artificially infested tomato seed lots were evaluated. Extraction methods that included grinding the seeds were significantly better at detecting the pathogen in three different seed lots than methods that used only soaking. The detection threshold of Cmm in relation to seed sample size was determined by adding naturally infected seeds into samples of three different sizes. Cmm was detected by agar plating assay, on three media (CNS, mSCM, D₂ANX), and by direct PCR from seeds and Bio-PCR (bacteria cultured on agar media prior to PCR). In samples of 10 000 seeds containing one infected seed, Cmm could be detected only by Bio-PCR and in only one replicate out of five. In samples containing five or 10 infected seeds per 10 000 seeds, three of five and five of five replicates, respectively, were detected by the three detection methods. In samples of 5000 seeds, one infected seed could be detected in all five replicates only after adding a concentration step. A high correlation ( R ² = 0·9448) between artificially infested seeds and the disease incidence was found. Seed lots infested with less than 58 colony-forming units (CFU) per g did not cause disease under glasshouse conditions, whereas lots with about 1000 CFU g⁻¹ caused disease in 78 plants out of 2000.     

Molecular typing and spread of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis in greenhouses in Japan

Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (CMM) strains collected between 2005-2008 from greenhouses in different locations in Okayama Prefecture, Japan, were fingerprinted by repetitive sequence-based polymerase chain reaction (rep-PCR) with ERIC and BOX primers. One hundred and eighty strains from eight different locations in Okayama were differentiated into four haplotypes (A to D) based on rep-PCR. Regardless of the year of isolation, location or cultivar of tomato, the strains in each greenhouse and location belonged to the same haplotype, suggesting the strains originated from the previous greenhouse population. Based on Morisita's index of dispersion ( I _δ ), the distribution of diseased plants in the greenhouses, where disbudding and defoliation using either scissors or by hand were carried out in the same direction to promote the spread of CMM, occurred in an aggregated distribution in a quadrant along a row of plants, but the distribution of diseased plants indicated a random distribution in a quadrant along a furrow of plants (two adjoining rows of plants). These results showed that disbudding and defoliation contribute highly to the secondary spread of bacterial canker in commercial greenhouses.