The Clavibacter Project: insights into function and evolution behind tomato bacterial canker

VANINA VARNI; ALAN YAÑEZ OLIVERA; JOSÉ LUIS STEFFANI VALLEJO; LORENA RODRÍGUEZ ORDUÑA; FRANCISCO BARONA GÓMEZ

Irapuato

Jornada; DACAD LANGEBIO 2017; 2017

Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad - LANGEBIO

Bacterial canker of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is caused by Clavibacter michiganensis subsp.michiganensis (Cmm), maybe the most important bacterial pathogen associated to tomato cultivation,particularly in greenhouses. The severity of the disease caused by Cmm and the problems in controlling itsspread have resulted in the classification of this pathogen as a quarantine organism under the EuropeanUnion Plant Health Legislation. In Mexico, the leading provider of tomato to United States, Cmm is thecause of great economic losses, given the diagnosis and control methods today are not always effective.However, there have been reports of isolation of non pathogenic Clavibacter strains on asymptomaticplants. In addition, tomato microbiome contains many organisms that may establish interactions withCmm.In LANGEBIO, bacterial canker has been studied for the last 7 years by the group of Dr. Barona. Wehypothesize that Cmm is part of the microbiome composition in tomato, and that in most conditions, itcan remain there without becoming pathogenic. If this is the case, a number of ecological and metabolicfactors that result from bacteria-bacteria and plant-bacteria interactions may trigger the development ofthe disease