Cross-inoculation and host responses to Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens in common bean, soybean, and cowpea: pathogenicity, symptom expression, and xylem colonization

Cross-inoculation and host responses to Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens in common bean, soybean, and cowpea: pathogenicity, symptom expression, and xylem colonization | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Cross-inoculation and host responses to Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens in common bean, soybean, and cowpea: pathogenicity, symptom expression, and xylem colonization Suellen Rodrigues Ferreira, Adriane Wendland, Ronair José Pereira, and 1 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8231906/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 29 Mar, 2026 Read the published version in European Journal of Plant Pathology → Version 1 posted 6 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Genetic variability within a pathogen species underlies its ability to infect multiple plant species. Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens is a notable example of a pathogen capable of colonizing plant tissues across different species, including those within the same family or across distinct families. The pathovar flaccumfaciens comprises isolates that induce both systemic and foliar symptoms in common beans and soybeans, leading to Curtobacterium wilt and bacterial brown spot diseases. Understanding the pathogen's behavior across various hosts is essential for developing effective strategies to mitigate its detrimental impact on crop productivity. This study evaluated the systemic and localized infection potential of Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens ( Cff ) isolates, originating from diverse sources, in soybean, common bean, and cowpea cultivars. Multiple methodological approaches were employed to generate valuable insights into disease dynamics and inform potential management practices. The results demonstrated that Cff isolates obtained from soybean plants elicited varying symptomatology across the three legume species. Furthermore, differential host reactions were observed among the tested cultivars when inoculated with the same Cff isolates. Curtobacterium wilt Bacterial brown spot Systemic infection Leaf spot SEM Full Text Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 29 Mar, 2026 Read the published version in European Journal of Plant Pathology → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Minor revisions 12 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 18 Dec, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 08 Dec, 2025 Editor invited by journal 04 Dec, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 04 Dec, 2025 First submitted to journal 02 Dec, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8231906","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":556841153,"identity":"b7732c63-afdf-4c25-8aa1-e2d5ef860da9","order_by":0,"name":"Suellen Rodrigues Ferreira","email":"data:image/png;base64,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","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0002-4983-0032","institution":"University of Sao Paulo Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture: Universidade de Sao Paulo Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Suellen","middleName":"Rodrigues","lastName":"Ferreira","suffix":""},{"id":556841154,"identity":"584eb730-dec5-4550-90dd-2fc76bd58d25","order_by":1,"name":"Adriane Wendland","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Embrapa: Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuaria","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Adriane","middleName":"","lastName":"Wendland","suffix":""},{"id":556841155,"identity":"ad84c526-3165-4d0d-b15a-a39ee7f517af","order_by":2,"name":"Ronair José Pereira","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Embrapa: Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuaria","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Ronair","middleName":"José","lastName":"Pereira","suffix":""},{"id":556841156,"identity":"f1e89929-e897-47c3-b11d-adb59694a76d","order_by":3,"name":"Jordana Alves da Silva Melo","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Federal Rural University of Pernambuco: Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Jordana","middleName":"Alves da Silva","lastName":"Melo","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-11-28 16:01:19","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8231906/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8231906/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-026-03204-7","type":"published","date":"2026-03-29T16:09:23+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":97926578,"identity":"444e167e-9d27-498c-96e4-2aa295b803db","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-10 21:49:35","extension":"xml","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":8494,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"ejppEJPPD2500931.xml","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8231906/v1/cbe677f17a68afc108f2737a.xml"},{"id":98421206,"identity":"6f71ce14-eac7-4490-bdad-bd56be5db42e","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-17 16:25:10","extension":"xml","order_by":2,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":926,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"EJPPD250093128151.go.xml","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8231906/v1/90feb3a6d6b95eb5a85fece9.xml"},{"id":98421383,"identity":"2b063956-93dd-4ef5-9ca6-fd0f2f3dce0a","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-17 16:27:02","extension":"xml","order_by":3,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":973,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"EJPPD2500931Import.xml","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8231906/v1/a7757a961175c80f58d97ea1.xml"},{"id":97926580,"identity":"5cbc5015-b8cf-4bd0-b2bf-884f3163f2dc","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-10 21:49:35","extension":"xml","order_by":4,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":109144,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"EJPPD25009310enriched.xml","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8231906/v1/3ff91b2abe672c76d3003506.xml"},{"id":98422184,"identity":"9f9f65cd-5847-4723-a3d3-1ad1aa3bfe2a","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-17 16:30:38","extension":"jpeg","order_by":7,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":1852979,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"floatimage1.jpeg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8231906/v1/0621dcff56816aea95c2f809.jpeg"},{"id":97926585,"identity":"15621fce-4514-4c08-b73c-590adf1e5921","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-10 21:49:35","extension":"jpeg","order_by":8,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":153728,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"floatimage2.jpeg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8231906/v1/956b1d971d771e4414c266d9.jpeg"},{"id":97926583,"identity":"0caa3c21-e4fd-4c8a-9052-5d2018d01053","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-10 21:49:35","extension":"jpeg","order_by":9,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":145292,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"floatimage3.jpeg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8231906/v1/cfbc54f0a9d8f5d27ed092b4.jpeg"},{"id":97926588,"identity":"b636c8af-2976-440d-a1ab-88938ec6ee8f","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-10 21:49:35","extension":"jpeg","order_by":10,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":903217,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"floatimage4.jpeg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8231906/v1/7ef645dd913f142636059195.jpeg"},{"id":98421325,"identity":"eea096ee-1f7e-48d7-8b31-3957cb32c34f","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-17 16:26:33","extension":"jpeg","order_by":11,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":837124,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"floatimage5.jpeg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8231906/v1/fdfa9628787443b36554ee6c.jpeg"},{"id":98421332,"identity":"c7d938e1-11f5-4035-aa01-3c3a10c033a0","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-17 16:26:37","extension":"png","order_by":12,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":711919,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Onlinefloatimage1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8231906/v1/8c6eeff41f83da78405efe93.png"},{"id":98421565,"identity":"da9dad1f-aa32-4c72-87e0-49b0d6452b21","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-17 16:28:28","extension":"png","order_by":13,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":27661,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Onlinefloatimage2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8231906/v1/7946d3215fc128994f184c14.png"},{"id":98422729,"identity":"ee9c646d-d7d2-45ce-9f4e-8734e48db6f2","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-17 16:31:23","extension":"png","order_by":14,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":24656,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Onlinefloatimage3.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8231906/v1/ecf650414fecb915c2cbbe10.png"},{"id":97926590,"identity":"bb58b143-70ed-42a9-ad9e-669ede6f36d3","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-10 21:49:35","extension":"png","order_by":15,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":234100,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Onlinefloatimage4.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8231906/v1/c3d107e8aa7032a2c34043a7.png"},{"id":97926591,"identity":"502c7dbe-13bb-4b9f-92c1-0ec7eb8df5ab","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-10 21:49:35","extension":"png","order_by":16,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":228084,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Onlinefloatimage5.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8231906/v1/324e5b7e481e112f78d1b5f5.png"},{"id":97926593,"identity":"91431ce5-c857-4eca-aa64-c70ad20d6b00","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-10 21:49:35","extension":"xml","order_by":17,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":107444,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"EJPPD25009310structuring.xml","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8231906/v1/150366b39b0f32ea3e2a8c6d.xml"},{"id":97926594,"identity":"ce40f2c9-e03c-4004-b5e4-e832814c8ee5","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-10 21:49:35","extension":"html","order_by":18,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":119243,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"earlyproof.html","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8231906/v1/d067d44463c51b8e50bd8291.html"},{"id":105755048,"identity":"5ff91b42-9ad8-47bf-b175-b97cc17a56b0","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-30 16:24:36","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1316098,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8231906/v1_covered_b70caaab-2cd4-4361-8f3e-c5939f18e5a7.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003eCross-inoculation and host responses to Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens in common bean, soybean, and cowpea: pathogenicity, symptom expression, and xylem colonization\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"european-journal-of-plant-pathology","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"ejpp","sideBox":"Learn more about [European Journal of Plant Pathology](http://link.springer.com/journal/10658)","snPcode":"10658","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/ejpp/default2.aspx","title":"European Journal of Plant Pathology","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Curtobacterium wilt, Bacterial brown spot, Systemic infection, Leaf spot, SEM","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8231906/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8231906/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eGenetic variability within a pathogen species underlies its ability to infect multiple plant species. \u003cem\u003eCurtobacterium flaccumfaciens\u003c/em\u003e is a notable example of a pathogen capable of colonizing plant tissues across different species, including those within the same family or across distinct families. The pathovar \u003cem\u003eflaccumfaciens\u003c/em\u003e comprises isolates that induce both systemic and foliar symptoms in common beans and soybeans, leading to \u003cem\u003eCurtobacterium wilt\u003c/em\u003e and bacterial brown spot diseases. Understanding the pathogen's behavior across various hosts is essential for developing effective strategies to mitigate its detrimental impact on crop productivity.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis study evaluated the systemic and localized infection potential of \u003cem\u003eCurtobacterium flaccumfaciens\u003c/em\u003e pv. \u003cem\u003eflaccumfaciens\u003c/em\u003e (\u003cem\u003eCff\u003c/em\u003e) isolates, originating from diverse sources, in soybean, common bean, and cowpea cultivars. Multiple methodological approaches were employed to generate valuable insights into disease dynamics and inform potential management practices. The results demonstrated that \u003cem\u003eCff\u003c/em\u003e isolates obtained from soybean plants elicited varying symptomatology across the three legume species. Furthermore, differential host reactions were observed among the tested cultivars when inoculated with the same \u003cem\u003eCff\u003c/em\u003e isolates.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Cross-inoculation and host responses to Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens in common bean, soybean, and cowpea: pathogenicity, symptom expression, and xylem colonization","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-12-10 21:49:30","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8231906/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Minor revisions","date":"2026-02-12T22:19:21+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"","date":"2025-12-18T09:13:56+00:00","index":0,"fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-12-08T09:18:16+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"European Journal of Plant Pathology","date":"2025-12-04T09:34:19+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-12-04T05:32:04+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"European Journal of Plant Pathology","date":"2025-12-02T09:14:50+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"european-journal-of-plant-pathology","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"ejpp","sideBox":"Learn more about [European Journal of Plant Pathology](http://link.springer.com/journal/10658)","snPcode":"10658","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/ejpp/default2.aspx","title":"European Journal of Plant Pathology","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"ada2d5b0-cbfd-424b-b990-90efdd874da6","owner":[],"postedDate":"December 10th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-03-30T16:19:57+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-8231906","link":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-026-03204-7","journal":{"identity":"european-journal-of-plant-pathology","isVorOnly":false,"title":"European Journal of Plant Pathology"},"publishedOn":"2026-03-29 16:09:23","publishedOnDateReadable":"March 29th, 2026"},"versionCreatedAt":"2025-12-10 21:49:30","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1007/s10658-026-03204-7","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-026-03204-7","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8231906","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8231906","identity":"rs-8231906","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}