Bacterial Wilt Pathogen Dynamics in Solanaceous Crops
Summary
Bacterial wilt of Solanaceous crops is caused by a complex of soil-borne bacteria that colonise the xylem vessels of hosts such as tomato, potato, eggplant, pepper and tobacco. These pathogens exhibit a remarkable genetic diversity, divided into phylotypes that correlate with distinct geographical origins and ecological adaptations. Infection results in wilting, vascular discolouration and eventual plant collapse, leading to substantial yield losses in both temperate and tropical agriculture. Disease dynamics are governed by interactions among pathogen genotype, host resistance, soil properties and climatic factors. Pathogen survival in soil and irrigation water, coupled with the production of biofilms and resting structures, underpins long-term persistence and outbreak potential. Molecular studies have revealed extensive gene exchange and an open pangenome that facilitate rapid adaptation to new hosts or environmental stresses. Secretion systems, notably the type III apparatus, deliver effector proteins that subvert plant defences and determine host range. Integrated management strategies combine resistant cultivars, cultural practices such as crop rotation and soil amendments, and precise pathogen detection tools. A deeper understanding of pathogen population structure and epidemiology is essential for the development of durable control measures and for mitigating the global impact of bacterial wilt on food security.
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Bacterial Wilt Pathogen Dynamics in Solanaceous Crops publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in bacterial wilt pathogen dynamics in solanaceous crops across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Pangenome: The total set of genes present in all strains of a species, encompassing core and accessory genes.
Type III secretion system: A specialised molecular syringe used by bacteria to inject effector proteins into plant cells.
Effector: A bacterial protein secreted into a host cell that manipulates host processes to benefit the pathogen.
Phylotype: A genetic lineage defined by phylogenetic analysis, often linked to geographical origin.
Quantitative PCR: A laboratory method that amplifies and quantifies specific DNA sequences to estimate pathogen abundance.
References
- Taxonomy and Phylogenetic Research on Ralstonia solanacearum Species Complex: A Complex Pathogen with Extraordinary Economic Consequences. Pathogens (2020).
- Meta-analysis of the Ralstonia solanacearum species complex (RSSC) based on comparative evolutionary genomics and reverse ecology. Microbial Genomics (2022).
- Comparative genomic analysis of Ralstonia solanacearum reveals candidate genes for host specificity. BMC Genomics (2015).
- Quantitative detection of the Ralstonia solanacearum species complex in soil by qPCR combined with a recombinant internal control strain. Microbiology Spectrum (2023).
- Characterization and Association of Rips Repertoire to Host Range of Novel Ralstonia solanacearum Strains by In Silico Approaches. Microorganisms (2023).
- Comparative genomics and host range analysis of four Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum strains isolated from sunflower reveals genomic and phenotypic differences. BMC Genomics (2024).
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