The study shows that the pathogen actively takes up and utilizes plant sucrose released from host cells via SWEET transporters. The authors identified a specific gene cluster, the so-called sux locus, which is responsible for the transport and degradation of sucrose. In particular, the sucrose symporter SuxC and the sucrose hydrolase SuxB are crucial for bacterial growth, fitness, and full virulence on different rice varieties. The study proves that sucrose not only serves as a nutrient, but also promotes bacterial motility, biofilm formation, the production of extracellular polysaccharides, and colonization of the xylem. The publication thus provides important new insights into the molecular mechanisms of pathogenicity and opens up avenues for innovative strategies for plant protection (link to publication).
