Tissue water status and bacterial pathogen infection: how they are correlated?

Abstract

Tissue water status plays an important role in determining the fate of plant-pathogen interaction. Water availability is one of the factors that determine the multiplication of bacteria on the surface and inside the plants. Plant-water relations are highly influenced by soil water status, and drought stress is known to severely impact plant-pathogen interaction. Water, as a limiting factor, is differentially manipulated by both plants and pathogens during compatible and incompatible interactions. Plants stimulate the localized loss of water at the site of infection for limiting the bacterial multiplication. On the other hand, foliar and vascular bacterial pathogens employ different strategies to alter the plant water status and eventually establish the infection in plants. Foliar pathogens manipulate their own machinery in response to water-limited condition in plants. They also modulate the plant machinery in order to promote disease by increasing the water soaking between the cells. Similarly, vascular pathogens use different strategies such as clogging of vessels and embolism of xylem elements that leads to wilting of plant. Here, we discuss the current knowledge on impact of drought stress during plant interaction with foliar or vascular pathogen interactions.