AUTHOR=Wasendorf Chloe , Schmitz-Esser Stephan , Eischeid Carter J. , Leyhe Martin J. , Nelson Erika N. , Rahic-Seggerman Faith M. , Sullivan Kasey E. , Peters Nick T. 

TITLE=Genome analysis of Erwinia persicina reveals implications for soft rot pathogenicity in plants

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.1001139

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2022.1001139

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Soft rot disease causes devastating losses to crop plants all over the world, with up to 90% loss in tropical climates. To better understand this economically important disease, we isolated four soft rot-causing <italic>Erwinia persicina</italic> strains from rotted vegetables. Notably, <italic>E. persicina</italic> has only recently been identified as a soft rot pathogen and a comprehensive genomic analysis and comparison has yet to be conducted. Here, we provide the first genomic analysis of <italic>E. persicina</italic>, compared to <italic>Pectobacterium carotovorum</italic>, <italic>P. carotovorum</italic>, and associated <italic>Erwinia</italic> plant pathogens. We found that <italic>E. persicina</italic> shares common genomic features with other <italic>Erwinia</italic> species and <italic>P. carotovorum</italic>, while having its own unique characteristics as well. The <italic>E. persicina</italic> strains examined here lack Type II and Type III secretion systems, commonly used to secrete pectolytic enzymes and evade the host immune response, respectively. <italic>E. persicina</italic> contains fewer putative pectolytic enzymes than <italic>P. carotovorum</italic> and lacks the Out cluster of the Type II secretion system while harboring a siderophore that causes a unique pink pigmentation during soft rot infections. Interestingly, a putative phenolic acid decarboxylase is present in the <italic>E. persicina</italic> strains and some soft rot pathogens, but absent in other <italic>Erwinia</italic> species, thus potentially providing an important factor for soft rot. All four <italic>E. persicina</italic> isolates obtained here and many other <italic>E. persicina</italic> genomes contain plasmids larger than 100 kbp that encode proteins likely important for adaptation to plant hosts. This research provides new insights into the possible mechanisms of soft rot disease by <italic>E. persicina</italic> and potential targets for diagnostic tools and control measures.</p>