Publications

4367

ABSTRACT Methanol, the simplest alcohol, has long been known to be a key energy and carbon source for soil and plant-associated bacteria and fungi and is increasingly recognized as an important substrate for marine bacteria. Lanthanide-dependent methanol dehydrogenases (encoded by the gene xoxF ) have been shown to be key catalysts for methylotrophy in many environments, yet the identity of the most transcriptionally active methylotrophs in open ocean waters (“Clade X”) has remained elusive. Here, we show that “Clade X” methylotrophs belong to the deep-branching alphaproteobacterial order TMED127, which we propose be renamed “Methylaequorales”: “methyl” for “methylotrophic metabolism” and “aequor” for “ocean surface,” as these bacteria are most transcriptionally active near the sea surface. TMED127/Methylaequorales are present in surface waters of tropical and subtropical oceans throughout the global ocean. They have small, streamlined genomes (~1.5 Mb) and appear to be obligate methylotrophs that use the serine cycle for carbon assimilation. They display a diel pattern of xoxF5 and glucose dehydrogenase ( gdh ) transcription, peaking in the late afternoon, in oligotrophic surface water of the Sargasso Sea. Several other highly transcribed genes of unknown function had no homologs outside of TMED127/Methylaequorales genomes. Our findings illuminate an overlooked marine methylotrophic bacterium and predict a diel cycle of methanol production in surface seawater by an unknown pathway. IMPORTANCE Methanol metabolism is increasingly recognized as an important process in the marine carbon cycle, yet the identity and metabolism of the microorganisms mediating methylotrophy in the open ocean have remained unknown. This study reveals that bacteria in the TMED127 order of Alphaproteobacteria, renamed here as “Methylaequorales,” abundantly transcribe the key gene for lanthanide-dependent methylotrophy in oligotrophic surface waters of the world’s oceans. TMED127/Methylaequorales likely require methanol as a carbon and energy source and display a diel pattern of transcription of key genes for methylotrophy that peaks in the late afternoon. These findings motivate future studies on the mechanisms of methanol production in surface seawater.

AbstractPistachio (Pistacia vera L.) is a vital crop for Türkiye's economy, occupying over 420 000 ha, primarily in south‐eastern Anatolia. In 2023, severe symptoms, such as curling, chlorosis and needle‐like leaf deformation, were observed on pistachio trees in Şanlıurfa Province. This prompted a molecular study of phytoplasma pathogens. A real‐time PCR targeting the 16SrDNA gene was used to analyse DNA from eight symptomatic and two asymptomatic trees. A phytoplasma was found in two symptomatic samples but not in asymptomatic controls. Positive samples were further analysed using nested PCR. One sequence with 99% identity to ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma trifolii’ (16SrVI‐A subgroup) was found by bidirectional sequencing of PCR products. The identification of the phytoplasma was confirmed by a phylogenetic analysis showing the clustering of the UP 1 isolate with ‘Ca. Phytoplasma trifolii’ reference strain and by a virtual RFLP analysis using 17 restrictions enzymes. This first report of ‘Ca. Phytoplasma trifolii’ in pistachio in Türkiye highlights the presence of this phytoplasma in a key agricultural sector. Although no yield losses have been observed to date, broader surveys and monitoring of leafhopper vectors are necessary to assess the potential risk and implement timely management strategies.

Studies of the genetic diversity of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ strains based on housekeeping genes have been unsuccessful. The increasing availability of complete genome sequences of several strains from different countries has allowed the identification of regions having greater variability, which have been successfully implemented for the bacterium characterization, including microsatellites, genes of prophage origin, and miniature transposable elements with inverted-repeats (MITEs). In the present work, the genetic structure of 147 ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ strains from nine provinces of Cuba were investigated using two polymorphic regions, consisting of typing for prophages and MITEs. The results showed an important level of coexistence of type 1 and 2 prophages in the Cuban strains, while the type 3 prophage was not detected. Likewise, a high rate of co-occurrence of both types of MITEs (MCLas-A and -B) was also observed. However, the MITE MCLas-A was detected only in its empty form. The double-locus analysis allowed the identification of eight genotypes. Out of these, seven genotypes were present in the Western region, which constitutes the region with the highest genetic variability. This is the first report of a genetic characterization of Cuban strains of ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ with polymorphic markers in orchards growing in commercial citrus regions.