Fig 6. QS-response maximizes the in planta migration rate in Xcc for their better survibility.
Frequency distribution of QS+ and QS- bacterial populations in the in planta competition assay, indicating the growth and migration patterns for QS responder (i.e. Xcc 8004/gfp), QS null (i.e. Xcc ΔrpfF/mCherry) and QS blind (i.e. Xcc ΔrpfC/mCherry) cells for single as well as mixed infections within clip inoculated cabbage leaves under a CLSM upto dpi 12. (A) Average bacterial population size per 1 cm2 leaf regions, and (B) Spatio-temporal distribution of bacterial population size per 1 cm2 proximal, middle and distal leaf regions respectively, for single and mixed infections on dpi 1, 6 and 12. WT; wild-type Xcc 8004, ΔF; Xcc ΔrpfF, and ΔC; Xcc ΔrpfC. On specified sampling dpi, multiple Z-stalks were acquired under a CLSM for each sample under green and red fluorescence along with DIC channel, maintaining 0.5 μm gap between two successive Z-planes. Bacterial population size was analysed by considering the X,Y and Z planes for each Z-stalk, where the bacterial cells present in all the Z-planes were counted manually and summed up to calculate the total no. of bacterial cells in that region at a time. The total population size observed was normalized; values are expressed per cm2 leaf region. The bacterial population size for each infection was determined by combining the analysed data for five sites per inoculated leaf, six leaves on each sampling day with experimental repeats for thrice. The characteristics of the total region of the leaf observed on each sampling day were slightly different. Data analysis [using FIJI (image J) software] was performed by taking six different confocal images as samples for each strain at a time with the experimental repeat of at least thrice and represented with Mean ± SD. P-values for significant difference level were determined by performing student’s T-test (two tailed, paired). ***; p < 0.001.