Production of gibberellin, a plant hormone, by Xanthomonas oryzae, a bacterial pathogen of rice

What is it about?

The rice pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryizcola causes the agriculturally devastating bacterial leaf streak disease. Here we show that this bacteria can produce a bioactive gibberellin plant hormone, which acts as a virulence factor, and that such biosynthetic capacity widespread in regions where the resulting disease is endemic.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

Gibberellins are normally thought of as hormones produced by plants for growth and development, but here we demonstrate that bacterial pathogens that infect plants are also capable of producing this hormone.