Presence of Bacterial Pathogen Blocks Arabidopsis Germination

A compound produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa activates signaling pathways that prevent seeds from growing in unfavorable environments.

Written byJef Akst

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ABOVE: EAVESDROPPING SEEDS: Arabidopsis seeds fail to sprout in the presence of a pathogen (left) as they normally would (right).
© UNIGE HICHAM CHAHTANE

The paper
H. Chahtane et al., “The plant pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa triggers a DELLA-dependent seed germination arrest in Arabidopsis,” eLife, 7:e37082, 2018.

A dormant plant embryo tucked away in a protective seed monitors the environment so it knows when to spring to life. The molecular signals activated by high temperature or insufficient light, for example, block germination via well-characterized pathways in plant cells. University of Geneva plant biologist Luis Lopez-Molina wondered if microbes living in the soil might also influence whether a plant sprouts. Studies show that some bacteria and fungi release compounds that block seed growth, “but they were always interpreted as toxic effects,” Lopez-Molina explains. “Another interpretation is that the seed senses this compound and mounts a response.”

Lopez-Molina and his colleagues grew various Pseudomonas species ...

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Meet the Author

Jef Akst
Jef (an unusual nickname for Jennifer) got her master’s degree from Indiana University in April 2009 studying the mating behavior of seahorses. After four years of diving off the Gulf Coast of Tampa and performing behavioral experiments at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, she left research to pursue a career in science writing. As The Scientist's managing editor, Jef edited features and oversaw the production of the TS Digest and quarterly print magazine. In 2022, her feature on uterus transplantation earned first place in the trade category of the Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism. She is a member of the National Association of Science Writers.
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