Plant-growth-promoting Caulobacter strains isolated from distinct plant hosts share conserved genetic factors involved in beneficial plant-bacteria interactions

Abstract

The genus Caulobacter encompasses several strains that can enhance the biomass of several plant species. However, for many plant-growth-promoting (PGP) Caulobacter strains, their genomic factors that facilitate positive interactions with their plant hosts remain unknown. Given that leveraging comparative genomics analyses can establish a framework to understand these plant-bacteria interactions, the genomes of three PGP Caulobacter strains that were isolated from distinct geographical locations and have been shown to associate with distinct plant species were compared. Using previously reported analyses to contextualize the genomic patterns among PGP Caulobacter strains, each of these PGP Caulobacter strains (CBR1, RHG1, and RHGG3) was observed harboring similar metabolic potentials and previously reported PGP genetic factors in their genomes. Together, these findings reinforce previous analyses that identify the cyo operon as a general PGP factor for Caulobacter strains while establishing a framework for further investigations that seek to uncover the mechanistic details that govern interactions between Caulobacter strains and diverse plant species.

Keywords: Caulobacter; Comparative genomics; Metabolic pathways; Plant-growth-promoting bacteria.