Genotypic and phenotypic variability of Pectobacterium strains causing blackleg and soft rot on potato in Turkey

• Published in: European journal of plant pathology Vol. 152; no. 1; pp. 143 - 155
• Main Authors: Ozturk, M., Aksoy, H. M., Potrykus, M., Lojkowska, E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-09-2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agriculture; Biochemical characteristics; Biochemistry; Biodiversity; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Blackleg; Broccoli; Cellulase; Ecology; GAPA gene; Gene sequencing; Genetic variability; Life Sciences; Outbreaks; Pectobacterium; Plant Pathology; Plant Sciences; Potatoes; RecA protein; rRNA 16S; Soft rot; Species; Strains (organisms); Swarming; Swimming; Tomatoes; Vegetables; Turkey; rep-PCR; Pectinolytic; subsp
• ISSN: 0929-1873; 1573-8469
• DOI: 10.1007/s10658-018-1459-y

Pectinolytic bacteria were isolated from 48 potato plants showing the symptoms of blackleg and collected in different fields of commercial potato production areas at Samsun, Amasya, Corum and Yozgat provinces in Turkey in 2015. The survey resulted in the isolation of 26 pectinolytic strains that belonged to
P. atrosepticum, P. carotovorum
subsp.
brasiliense, P. carotovorum
subsp.
carotovorum
and
P. parmentieri
species based on molecular identification with species-specific PCR and phenotypic characterization. The identified strains indicated typical biochemical characteristics of the assigned species. For 16 representative
Pectobacterium
isolates 10 unique rep-PCR band patterns were obtained. The
16S rRNA
and
recA
and
gapA
gene fragment sequencing confirmed the species identity of the isolates. The phenotypic characterization of the strains revealed that for all assays but one (cellulase, protease activity, swimming but not swarming), the tested
Pectobacterium
species were significantly different from each other proving the diversity of the strains belonging to these genera. Recent outbreaks of blackleg and/or soft rot in potato production areas in Turkey may pose a threat on other crops, as tomato, pepper, cucumber, onion, cabbage, broccoli and sugar beet are cultivated in the same provinces.