Modifications of sucrose crystallization by xanthans produced byXanthomonas albilineans, a sugarcane pathogen

Abstract

The Xanthomonas albilineans, casual organism of ratoon stunting disease of sugarcane, produces xanthan, a polysaccharide consisting of a basal tetramer composed by two molecules of glucose, one mannose rest and a final glucuronic acid that is repeated to form the macromolecule. The xanthan occludes both xylem and phloem producing desiccation of leaves. It has been described certain types of polysaccharides, mainly heterofructans produced by the own sugar cane, are able to modify the crystallization sequence of sucrose, product of primary commercial interest of this culture. For that reason, it has been investigated if the xanthan produced by the pathogen and accumulated in conductive elements of stalks and leaves of the host can develop a similar effect.