Gene-for-gene interactions of five cloned avirulence genes from Xanthomonas campestris pv. malvacearum with specific resistance genes in cotton

Abstract

A total DNA clone bank of a strain of Xanthomonas campestris pv. malvacearum (Xcm) was constructed in the cosmid vector pSa747 and transfected into Escherichia coli . The Xcm strain carries at least nine identifiable avirulence ( A ) genes. Clones in E. coli were mated individually into a recombination-proficient Xcm isolate carrying no known A genes. Screening was for incompatibility on congenic cotton host lines that differ by single specific resistance ( R ) genes. Ten different cosmid clones conferring race-specific avirulence were recovered. In most cases, the same A gene clone was recovered independently several times. Using the congenic host lines and the merodiploid transconjugant pathogen strains, five of the A genes were shown to specifically interact, gene-for-gene, with individual R genes in the congenic cotton lines. Some A / R gene interactions appeared qualitatively different from others, suggesting that the physiological mechanism(s) of gene-for-gene specified incompatibility may be unique to the interactive gene pair. All A genes appeared to be chromosomally determined, three were found linked on a single 32-kilobase clone, and the rest were spaced more than 31 kilobases apart. Colinearity of the cosmid inserts with the Xcm recipient (carrying no known A genes) chromosome was demonstrated in two of the three tested. This and other evidence suggests that at least some A genes in bacteria may have the equivalent of virulence ( a ) alleles. The genetics of race specificity in this phytopathogenic bacterium appeared in all respects to be identical to that found in phytopathogenic fungi.