Inactivation of Multiple Virulence Genes Reduces the Ability ofPseudomonas solanacearumto Cause Wilt Symptoms

A logical extension of our earlier work was to determine what effect inactivating multiple virulence genes would have on the ability of P. solanacearum to wilt tomato plants. A double mutant that is EPS i and EG − was of special interest, since it should resemble the spontaneous mutant strain AW1-PC. We also wished to know whether the observed virulence of the mutants would be altered if the bacteria were required to infect plants via the roots