CSU1137- Fundamentals of Microbiology

Lecture 21 – Plant Microbe Interactions

 Topics to be covered

1. Introduction
2. Microbial interactions
3. Types
4. Some examples
 Plant-Microbe Interaction
❖ Plants are non-motile but they constantly encounter both the biotic and abiotic

stress. There is a constant war between the pathogenic microbes and the host plant –

the outcome of which determines resistance or disease.

❖ Plants secrete various organic compounds resulting in a nutritionally enriched

environment favourable for microbial growth.

❖ As a result, plants are heavily colonized with a diversity of microbes whose

reservoir is primary the soil.

❖ Microbes that colonize plants are called either epiphytes (colonize plant surface) or

endophytes (colonize plants interior)

 Plant Microbe Interaction Ctd.....

❖ Microbial communities influence plants in direct and indirect ways.

❖ Plants and microbes can have variety of interactions including pathogenic,

symbiotic and associative.

 1. Pathogenic Interaction

1. The contact between plant and pathogenic microorganism lead to a

particular chain of events in plant organism.
2. The extracellular space between cell wall and plasma membrane acts as a
first battle field between plants and pathogens.
3. Bacteria, fungi, viruses and oomycetes that colonize the living plant
tissues are encased in this narrow region in the initial step of infection.
4. Therefore, the apoplastic region is believed to be an interface which
mediates the first crosstalk between host and pathogen.
 1. Pathogenic Interaction

1. The secreted proteins and other metabolites, derived from both host and
pathogen, interact in this apoplastic region and govern the final
relationship between them.
2. Types of pathogen based on effects :

Hemibiotrophy
Necrotrophy Biotrophy
Plant cells initially alive
Plant cells are killed Plant cells remain alive
later killed.
 Necrotrophy
Necrotrophs are pathogens that kill host cells and tissues to obtain
nutrients from the dead material. They typically secrete toxins and
enzymes that cause cell death and decay.

Control Strategies:

Resistant Varieties: Plant resistant cultivars that can limit the spread and
damage caused by necrotrophic pathogens.

Fungicides: Utilize fungicides to manage necrotrophic pathogens;

however, the effectiveness may vary based on the specific pathogen and
plant stage.

Cultural Practices: Implement good cultural practices, such as proper

sanitation, adequate plant spacing, and timely removal and disposal of
infected plant material, to reduce disease pressure.
 2. Biotrophy
Biotrophs are pathogens that derive nutrients from living plant cells. They
establish a symbiotic relationship with the host and often cause chronic
infections.

Control Strategies:

Resistant Varieties: Breeding and using resistant plant varieties that can
recognize and resist biotrophic pathogens effectively.

Biological Control: Use beneficial microbes or predators that can

antagonize or compete with the biotrophic pathogen, limiting its growth
and spread.

Enhanced Plant Immunity: Enhance the plant’s natural defense

mechanisms through practices like foliar applications of immune-inducing
compounds or beneficial microorganisms.
 3. Hemibiotrophs
Hemibiotrophs exhibit a dual lifestyle, starting as biotrophs by
establishing a biotrophic phase in the host, followed by a necrotrophic
phase where they switch to killing host tissues for nutrients.
Control Strategies:

Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Adopt an integrated approach

that combines multiple strategies, including resistant cultivars,
cultural practices, biological control, and targeted fungicide
applications.

Monitoring and Early Intervention: Regularly monitor for

symptoms and signs of infection, and intervene promptly when the
transition from biotrophic to necrotrophic phase is observed.
 General Control Strategies for All Pathogens

1. Crop Rotation: Rotate crops to disrupt pathogen life cycles and

reduce disease pressure in the soil.

2. Sanitation: Remove and destroy infected plant material to prevent

the buildup and spread of pathogens.

3. Proper Irrigation: Avoid excessive moisture, as it can create a

favorable environment for many pathogens.

4. Adequate Nutrition: Maintain proper nutrient levels to ensure

plants are healthy and can better withstand pathogen attacks.

5. Education and Awareness: Stay informed about prevalent

diseases, their life cycles, and appropriate control measures to make
informed decisions.
 Microbial interaction
Microorganisms interacts with each other and can
be physically associated with another organisms in
a variety of ways.
One organism can be located on the surface of
another organism as an ectobiont or located within
another organism as endobiont.
Microbial interaction may be positive such as
mutualism, proto-cooperation, commensalism or
may be negative such as parasitism, predation or
competition,
Types of microbial interaction
Positive interaction: mutualism, proto-
cooperation, commensalism
Negative interaction: Ammensalism
(antagonism), parasitism, predation, competition
Types of microbial interaction
Fig 1. Microbial Interactions: Basic characteristics of positive (+) and negative (-)
interactions that can occur between different organisms
 Symbiotic relationship
1. Symbiosis is generally defined as a condition where two dissimilar organisms live
together in an intimate associate that sees both organisms benefit.
2. Microbial symbiosis tends to be bit broader in definition, being defined as the co-
existence of two microorganisms.
3. 4 types of symbiosis have been recognized depending on the nature relationship.

Proto-
Mutualism Syntrophism Commensalism
cooperation
 A. Mutualism
1. Mutualism is a biological interaction between two species where in both
species benefit from each other
2. This term was discovered by Pierre van Benden.
3. They exchange food or provide shelter or protection, but may still be able
to live independent life.
4. There are many different examples of mutualistic relationship :
5. Plants and Microbes : eg. Rhizobium in root nodules.
6. Protists and Fungi : eg. Lichen
7. Terrestrial plants and insects : eg. Pollination
 B. Syntrophism
▪ It is an association in which the growth of one organism either
depends on or improved by the substrate provided by another
organism.
▪In syntrophism, both organisms in association get to benefit from
each other.

Example:
Lactobacillus arobinosus and Enterococcus faecalis
•In the minimal
media, Lactobacillus arobinosus and Enterococcus faecalis are able
to grow together but not alone.

•Anaerobic fermentative bacteria generate CO2 and H2 utilizing

carbohydrates which are then utilized by methanogenic bacteria
(Methanobacter) to produce methane.
 C. Commensalism
1. Commensalism is the relationship between two different species in which one species benefits
from the relationship and the other is neither harmed or helped.
2. Very few of such relationships exist, as it is very unlikely the two organisms can live together
without them affecting each other.
3. Non-pathogenic E. coli in the intestinal tract of humans: E. coli is a facultative anaerobe that uses
oxygen and lowers the O2 concentration in the gut which creates a suitable environment for
obligate anaerobes such as Bacteroides. E. coli is a host which remains unaffected by Bacteroides.
4. Barnacles adhere to the skin of a whale or shark. The barnacle benefits from the relationship and
does not harm or help its host
 D. Protocoopertaion (Synergism)

•It is a relationship in which an organism in an association is

mutually benefited with each other.

•This interaction is similar to mutualism but the relationships

between the organisms in protocooperation are not obligatory as in
mutualism.

Examples of Protocooperation:

a. Association of Desulfovibrio and Chromatium: It is a

protocooperation between the carbon cycle and the sulfur cycle.

b. Interaction between N2-fixing bacteria and cellulolytic

bacteria such as Cellulomonas.
Fig. 2: Examples of Protocooperative Symbiotic Processes
 Negative Interaction

Antagonism refers to the

action of any organisms
that suppresses the
interferes with the
normal growth normal
activity of a plant
pathogen, such as the
main parts of bacteria
and fungi.
 A. Predation
•It is a widespread phenomenon when one organism (predator)
engulf or attack other organisms (prey).
•The prey can be larger or smaller than the predator and this
normally results in the death of the prey.
•Normally predator-prey interaction is of short duration.

Examples of Predation:

a. Protozoan-bacteria in soil: Many protozoans can feed on

various bacterial population which helps to maintain the count of
soil bacteria at optimum level.
b. Bdellovibrio, Vamparococcus, Daptobacter, etc are examples of
predator bacteria that can feed on a wide range of the bacterial
population.
 B. Parasitism
•It is a relationship in which one population (parasite) get benefited
and derive its nutrition from other population (host) in the
association which is harmed.
•The host-parasite relationship is characterized by a relatively long
period of contact which may be physical or metabolic.
•Some parasite lives outside the host cell, known as ectoparasite
while other parasite lives inside the host cell, known as
endoparasite.
Examples of parasitism:

a. Viruses: Viruses are an obligate intracellular parasite that

exhibits great host specificity. There are many viruses that
are parasite to bacteria (bacteriophage), fungi, algae, protozoa etc.
b. Bdellovibrio: Bdellavibrio is ectoparasite to many gram-negative
bacteria.
 C. Competition

•The competition represents a negative relationship

between two microbial populations in which both the
population are adversely affected with respect to their
survival and growth.
•Competition occurs when both populations use the
same resources such as the same space or same
nutrition, so, the microbial population achieves lower
maximum density or growth rate.
•Microbial population competes for any growth-
limiting resources such as carbon source, nitrogen
source, phosphorus, vitamins, growth factors etc.
•Competition inhibits both populations from occupying
exactly the same ecological niche because one will win
the competition and the other one is eliminated.
Examples of competition:
a. Competition between Paramecium
caudatum and Paramecium aurelia: Both species
of Paramecium feeds on the same bacteria population
when these protozoa are placed together. P.
aurelia grow at a better rate than P. caudatum due to
competition.
 D. Ammensalism (Antagonism)
•When one microbial population produces substances that are inhibitory to
other microbial population then this interpopulation relationship is known as
Ammensalism or Antagonism.
•It is a negative relationship.
•The first population which produces inhibitory substances are unaffected or
may gain competition and survive in the habitat while other populations get
inhibited.
•This chemical inhibition is known as antibiosis.
Examples:
a. Skin normal flora: Fatty acid produced by skin flora inhibits many
pathogenic bacteria in the skin
b. Algal blooms can leads to the death of many species of fish and other
animals
Table 1: Types of Interaction between Microorganisms and Hosts
Dr. Dimple Tanwar
School of Bioengineering and Food Technology
Shoolini University
Village Bhajol, Solan (H.P)
7833078548 (Mob No.)
[email protected]