An endophytic bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) strain translocated and protected tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants from its parasitic weed Phelipanche aegyptiaca

Phelipanche aegyptiaca is an obligate holo-parasitic weed lacking a functional photosynthetic system, which subsists on roots of a wide range of host crops, causing severe losses in yield quality and quantity. The parasite and its host are connected through their vascular system, forming a unique ecological system that enables the exchange of various substances. In a previous study, it was suggested that endophytic bacteria, which naturally inhabit the internal tissues of plants, can also be transmitted from the parasitic weed to its host and vice versa. In the current study, we investigate the characteristics of a previously isolated Pseudomonas sp. PhelS10 strain, using both biochemical and molecular methods. Our results revealed that production of Pseudomonas aeruginosa quinolone signal (PQS) was 2.1 times higher than that of the standard Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain (PAO1), which contributed to a 22% higher biofilm formation capability. PhelS10 strain was detected in the xylem of tomato plants using FISH analysis. In addition, PhelS10 strain was found in the parasitic weeds inner tissues, confirming the hypothesis that endophytic bacteria traffic between the plant host and its parasitic weed.