FIGURE 4.

Summary of how endophyte 3A12 confers mobility-based defense for its host plant and the genes required. Bacterial endophyte strain 3A12 originates from the ancient Meso-American corn landrace Chapalote and can combat various crop pathogens. Following pathogen sensing, the endophyte swarms toward its target, a fungal pathogen of its host plant, where it forms microcolonies around the fungal pathogen, likely mediated by biofilm, after which the endophyte kills fungal hyphae. Mutant analysis suggests the genes that may be involved in each of these steps. Picture of Chapalote corn courtesy of CIMMYT (under the Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 2.0 License).