title: Role of iron and the TonB system in colonization of corn seeds and roots by Pseudomonas putida KT2440.
abstract: Iron, which is abundant in corn (Zea mays L.) seeds, plays an important role in the initial establishment of Pseudomonas putida KT2440 populations on seeds. Sequestration of seed-borne iron by chelators decreases the capacity of KT2440 to initiate attachment to corn seeds. The importance of iron for this plant-bacteria interaction is further supported by the fact that mutations in the TonB system, which is key for iron uptake, result in reduced seed colonization. TonB is also a primary determinant of the fitness of P. putida in the rhizosphere, as a deletion mutant shows a clear competitive disadvantage during colonization of corn roots.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Biochemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology, Estación Experimental de Zaidín, CSIC, Profesor Albareda 1, Granada 18008, Spain.
authors.forename: María Antonia
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Godoy
authors.forename: María Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Ramos-González
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: Juan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Espinosa-Urgel
mesh_terms: D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D007501:Iron / Q000502:physiology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000382:microbiology; D016958:Pseudomonas putida / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D012639:Seeds / Q000382:microbiology; D003313:Zea mays / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C057616:tonB protein, Bacteria; D007501:Iron