The Plant Molecular Biology Group published in the journal “Frontiers in Plant Science“ a paper entitled „Paraburkholderia phytofirmans PsJN triggers local and systemic transcriptional reprogramming in Arabidopsis thaliana and increases resistance against Botrytis cinerea“. 

Fungal diseases are a major threat to crops worldwide, causing significant losses in food production. But nature may already have a solution: beneficial bacteria. One such bacterium, Paraburkholderia phytofirmans PsJN, doesn’t just help plants grow—it also helps them defend themselves.

In this study, scientists explored how this friendly microbe protects Arabidopsis thaliana, a model plant, from a common fungal pathogen called Botrytis cinerea. They found that PsJN triggers a kind of "immune boost" in the plant, both in the roots and the leaves. In the roots, it calms the plant's initial defenses, making it easier for the bacterium to form a helpful partnership. In the leaves, however, it revs up defense genes, preparing the plant for a stronger response to future attacks.

This dual strategy—quiet cooperation below ground and active defense above—means PsJN helps plants stay healthier without chemicals. It’s a promising step toward more sustainable farming and crop protection. 

This research is part of the dissertation of Sofija Nešić and it was conducted within the project “ExplOMV -  Exploring Bacterial OMV (Outer Membrane Vesicles)-sRNAs Mediated Interkingdom Communication with Plants and Fungi”, which was funded within the IDEAS program by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia. The study was performed in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Raims Champagne-Ardenne.