Mutualistic symbiosis between Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas

Interactions between the pine wood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, and bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas were examined by cultivating axenic PWN and bacterial strains using callus of Pinus thunbergii. Ten (Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas cepacia and Pseudomonas spp.) of the 29 bacterial strains tested, significantly increased the reproduction of PWN. The rest of the bacteria (19 strains of 10 species) inhibited the reproduction of PWN completely. The growth of 18 of the 29 bacterial strains tested, including the 10 strains promoting PWN reproduction, was significantly increased by the presence of PWN. It indicated a mutualistic symbiotic relationship between PWN and the 10 bacterial strains in the genus Pseudomonas. The bacterial mutualistic symbionts are organisms, which may have co-evolved with PWN rather than being accidentally associated. The finding provides further evidence for our hypothesis that pine wilt disease is complex, induced by both PWN and associated phytotoxin-producing bacteria.