Differences in root colonization by fluorescent Pseudomonas spp.
Summary
Pseudomonas fluorescens WCS374 and WCS417 are plant growth promoting rhizobacteria. P. fluorescens WCS417 is known to be able to induce systemic resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana and radish while P. fluorescens WCS374 can only do so in radish. On A. thaliana root colonization by P. fluorescens WCS417 is superior. The performed research shows that P. fluorescens WCS417 is a better root colonizer on A. thaliana accession Col-0 and the mutant myb72-1 as well as on radish. The differences in root colonization are not caused by the capability of inducing systemic resistance in the plant neither by a difference in growth rates. The performed research does show a linkage with the capability of P. fluorescens WCS417 to use the carbon source D-sorbitol. This carbon source could not be used by P. fluorescens WCS374.