Iron-clad defense: How microbes shield tomato crops from bacterial wilt

Added on 22 November 2024

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Iron-clad defense: How microbes shield tomato crops from bacterial wilt

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Ralstonia solanacearum is a soil-borne pathogen that devastates tomato and other Solanaceae crops globally. Traditional chemical controls have proven inadequate and environmentally damaging. The plant root microbiome offers a potential solution by naturally inhibiting pathogens or competing for resources. However, limited understanding of these interactions, particularly iron competition, hinders effective field applications. Due to these challenges, it is essential to investigate mechanisms like siderophore-mediated iron competition more thoroughly.

A collaborative team from Nanjing Agricultural University, in partnership with international researchers, published their findings (DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhae186) on July 12, 2024, in Horticulture Research. The study highlights that Pseudomonas consortia employing siderophore-mediated competition suppress Ralstonia solanacearum more effectively than other mechanisms. This work pioneers a new strategy for utilizing microbial interactions to defend crops from bacterial wilt.