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IMAGE: Pantaphos, which is produced by the plant pathogen Pantoea ananatis, is responsible for causing onion center rot. view more
Credit: Alex Polidore
Since 1983, the bacteria Pantoea ananatis has been known to infect several important crops including onions, rice, and corn. It was unclear, however, what molecules were involved. A new study, published in
mBio, has identified one of the culprits: pantaphos. Intriguingly, the researchers have discovered that pantaphos can also act as an herbicide and it is toxic to glioblastoma cells, making it an exciting candidate for agricultural and biomedical applications. Herbicide resistant weeds are an issue in agriculture, said William Metcalf (MMG leader), a professor of microbiology. Unfortunately, there hasn t been a new class of herbicide for over 30 years. If we can understand how pantaphos causes onion rot, we can solve a big problem.