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Dissociation of a population of Pectobacterium atrosepticum SCRI1043 in tobacco plants: formation of bacterial emboli and dormant cells

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Abstract

The population dynamics of Pectobacterium atrosepticum SCRI1043 (Pba) within tobacco plants was monitored from the time of inoculation until after long-term preservation of microorganisms in the remnants of dead plants. We found and characterised peculiar structures that totally occlude xylem vessels, which we have named bacterial emboli. Viable but non-culturable (VBN) Pba cells were identified in the remnants of dead plants, and the conditions for resuscitation of these VBN cells were established. Our investigation shows that dissociation of the integrated bacterial population during plant colonisation forms distinct subpopulations and cell morphotypes, which are likely to perform specific functions that ensure successful completion of the life cycle within the plant.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported in part by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, research project nos. 12-04-31059-MOL_A and 11-04-02097-a and by a grant from the programme Leading Scientific Schools no. NSH-825.2012.4 (Supervisor A.N. Grechkin) and grant no. 14.740.11.1190 from the Federal Target Programme.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kazan Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Kazan Research Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Lobachevsky Street 2/31, 420111, Kazan, Russia

    Vladimir Gorshkov, Amina Daminova, Marina Ageeva, Olga Petrova, Natalya Gogoleva, Nadezhda Tarasova & Yuri Gogolev

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  1. Vladimir Gorshkov
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  2. Amina Daminova
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  3. Marina Ageeva
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  4. Olga Petrova
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  5. Natalya Gogoleva
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  6. Nadezhda Tarasova
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  7. Yuri Gogolev
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Correspondence to Vladimir Gorshkov.

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Gorshkov, V., Daminova, A., Ageeva, M. et al. Dissociation of a population of Pectobacterium atrosepticum SCRI1043 in tobacco plants: formation of bacterial emboli and dormant cells. Protoplasma 251, 499–510 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-013-0546-3

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