NOTES FROM THE UNDERGROUND - HIGHLIGHTS FROM PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS

Basic research an communication between plants and microorganisms has revealed that symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms have developed a diverse array of mechanisms to exploit their host plants, The interaction strategies of symbiotic Rhizobia, pathogenic Pseudomonads and the natural genetic engineer Agrobacterium are particularly revealing, The lessons learned from these organisms demonstrate that understanding their life style is essential for engineering improved crop plants in the next century.