Pea aphid as both host and vector for the phytopathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas syringae

The ability of widespread agricultural pest, pea aphids to vector the phytopathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae B728a (PsyB728a) is described. The less virulent feature of strain Pseudomonas syringae pv. Tomato DC3000 compared to PsyB728a in the pea aphid indicated that PsyB728a possess strain-specific pathogenicity factors that allow it to exploit aphids as hosts.