Hairy root disease: understanding the molecular processes leading to tomato hairy root development upon infection with rhizogenic agrobacteria

Hairy root disease (HRD), a rapidly spreading and highly persistent disease, is caused by rhizogenic agrobacteria and results in extensive root growth and associated yield loss of tomato plants. Rhizogenic agrobacteria contain a root-inducing plasmid – part (T-DNA) of which is transferred to the plant and is responsible for the HRD phenotype. However, the mechanisms underlying hairy root formation upon infection by rhizogenic agrobacteria remain largely unknown. This project aims to provide a comprehensive view of the genes involved in virulence. To achieve this, a comparative genomics study of Agrobacterium isolates will be carried out, revealing genetic hallmarks that result in differences in virulence, hairy root formation or biofilm-forming capacities. In addition, the effect of mutations in identified virulence genes will be assessed to allow an in depth molecular characterization of how these genes trigger hairy root formation.