Motility and Chemotaxis of Erwinia Amylovora

Environmental and cultural factors influence the motility of Erwinia amylovora by affecting either flagella synthesis of motility itself. Flagella synthesis is temperature dependent with an optimum at 18-23(DEGREES)C. However, bacterial cells grown at these temperatures are actively motile even at 35(DEGREES)C. The optimum pH for flagella synthesis is 6-8 although cells grown at the pH optimum are still motile at pH 9. For motility to occur, a chelating agent is required in the medium. An external energy source is not needed for motility although mannitol and glucose stimulate movement. Energy for motility is derived from oxygen dependent metabolism of endogenous energy sources but motility occurs under anaerobic conditions if an energy source is provided which can be metabolized in the absence of oxygen. Erwinia amylovora cells are not motile inside host tissues but become motile when placed in contact with free water at temperatures optimal for flagella synthesis.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Plant Pathology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2014

Author dc:creator

• Raymundo, Asuncion Karganilla

• Agriculture, Plant Pathology

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(UMI)AAI8018204

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/67446