Escherichia coli carrying single pectate lyase genes from the phytopathogenic Erwinia Chrysanthemi causes disease symptoms in potato

Introduction of the cloned Erwinia chrysanthemi pelB or pelE genes into Escherichia coli enabled the latter to cause blackleg disease symptoms in potato similar to those observed with the pathogen Erwinia carotovora. The E. coli cells multiplied in the roots and moved systemically in the potato stems, concomitant with the appearance of disease symptoms. E. coli cells expressing the cloned pel genes also interacted with the fungal pathogen, Verticillium dahliae, as observed previously with Erwinia spp. The results indicate that either of two cloned pel genes permits E. coli to cause relatively sophisticated diseases in potato plantlets.