Role assessment of the type VI secretion systems during disease interactions of Erwinia amylovora with its plant host by comparing the in planta and in vitro RNA-seq transcriptomes of wildtype CFBP 1430 and its T6SS double mutant (T6-d1d3)

To assess the contribution of type VI secretion systems to virulence and potential transcriptomic changes of E. amylovora CFBP 1430, a double mutant in two structural genes was generated (T6-d1d3). An in vitro RNA-seq transcriptome comparison of the wildtype to the T6-d1d3 mutant was made by growing the bacteria to the mid-log phase in minimal M9 medium supplemented with sucrose. An in planta RNA-seq transcriptome comparison was performed by inoculating a bacterial suspension on the hypanthium of apple flowers and collecting at two days post inoculation.