CHONGQING: Scientists have made a breakthrough in understanding how the destructive plant pathogen Xanthomonas feeds on crops, opening the door to innovative ways to protect global agriculture.
Xanthomonas is notorious for infecting over 400 plant species, including staple crops like rice, and causing devastating diseases. Its rapid spread and the lack of natural resistance in many crops have made it one of the most challenging threats for farmers worldwide.
A team of researchers from Southwest University, Jilin Agricultural University, and Duke University, with contributions from the University of California and Seoul National University, has uncovered a key mechanism that allows the bacterium to survive and thrive inside host plants. Their study, published in Science, sheds light on how the pathogen extracts nutrients from rice cells.
According to Wang Shanzhi, the study’s lead author, Xanthomonas secretes an enzyme called AvrBs2 into the plant’s cells. This enzyme converts the plant’s nutrients into a compound known as xanthosan, which the bacterium can then absorb and break down to fuel its growth.
"It’s like the pathogen builds its own nutrient pipeline inside the plant, continuously plundering resources to feed itself," Wang explained. "If we can block this pathway, we can make crops far more resistant to the disease."
The team tested this idea by developing transgenic rice that interrupts the pathogen’s ability to use xanthosan. The modified rice plants not only resisted infection more effectively but also grew normally, showing no negative impact on metabolism or overall health.
Researchers believe this approach could have broader applications. Since AvrBs2 is common among many Xanthomonas species, similar strategies might protect other crops from bacterial diseases such as citrus canker and tomato bacterial spot, offering a sustainable solution for global agriculture.
