In evolutionary arms race, a bacterium is found that outwits tomato plant's defenses

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Tracy Rosebrock a graduate student in plant pathology and lead author of a paper appearing in Nature stands among wild varieties of tomato plants at the Boyce Thompson Intstitute on campus. Photo: Robert Barker
Tracy Rosebrock, a graduate student in plant pathology and lead author of a paper appearing in Nature, stands among wild varieties of tomato plants at the Boyce Thompson Intstitute on campus. Photo: Robert Barker

An arms race is under way in the plant world. It is an evolutionary battle in which plants are trying to beef up their defenses against the innovative strategies of pathogens. The latest example of this war is a bacterium (Pseudomonas syringae) that infects tomatoes by injecting a special protein into the plant's cells and undermines the plant's defense system.


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