[4] The microsymbiont was discovered in pockets or galls on the leaves of Rubiaceae plants and classified as a novel species of the genus Burkholderia.
[5] The bacteria also reside in the stem apical region, on a permanent basis, where it can infect every new developing leaf and every ovary, and therefore, seeds.
[5] The bacteria are therefore in a continuous symbiotic relationship with the plant throughout its entire life cycle.
[5] The major role that it plays in the Rubiaceae life cycle is related to the growth of the plant.
In the absence of the nodules containing these bacteria, the plant is unable to undergo normal cell division and cellular differentiation, which results in morphological malfunctions, stunting growth and eventually causing death.