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Poster

Session: Session 1 Presenting Authors at Posters (Evens)

P-038 - Gram-Positively Sneaky: Host targets and perception of apoplastic effectors in Clavibacter-tomato interactions

Tuesday, July 15, 2025
09:55 - 11:30  
Location: Confex Hall 3
Extracellular & Intracellular non-self recognition & signaling

 

Clavibacter is a genus of Gram-positive, xylem-colonizing bacterial plant pathogens. Two classes of secreted effectors, serine proteases and CAZymes, are required for virulence. Clavibacter effector proteases correlate with host range within the Solanaceae and can be recognized in tobacco and eggplant. As Clavibacter cannot secrete proteins directly into plant cells, we hypothesize effectors and pathogen-induced damage are recognized by surface-localized receptors. SilencingSOBIR1, which is required for receptor protein (RP) function, indicated an RP recognizes a serine protease effector in eggplant. CAZyme effectors likely aid in pathogen movement by facilitating xylem degradation. Thus, damage or danger receptors may restrict Clavibacter. We acquired and generated CRISPR mutants of tomato receptors sensing local and systemic damage. Tomato mutants lacking the serk3a co-receptor exhibited greater disease severity. Similarly, pepr mutants also show enhanced disease susceptibility, highlighting the importance of local danger signaling in restricting Clavibacter. Results will be presented on the importance of systemic tomato danger perception as well as candidate protease effector targets.  This work will provide valuable insight into our understanding of how plants restrict vascular pathogens.