HOST INDUCED VIRULENCE IN ERWINIA AMYLOVORA

1. Induction of bacterial genes encoding the expression of some determinant(s) of virulence, in response to a low molecular weight (<1500D), heat stable, choroform soluble compound of host cytoplasmic origin. The elicitor is apparently a phenolic compound structurally related to chlorogenic acid and active at > 10^-9M.
2. A contact - dependent interaction between host and bacterial cells, resulting in the liberation of a diffusible, low molecular weight moiety displaying toxicity (directly or indirectly) to host cells.

Host activation of virulence gene(s) expression parallels that of Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Rhizobium spp; the elicitors are all phenolics but are distinct and uniquely active for each pathogen.

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