Journal of Plant Pathology & Microbiology

Abstract

Detection of Pectobacteria Causal Agents of Potato Soft Rot in North Western Provinces of Iran

Sima Azadmanesh, Alireza Marefat and Kayhan Azadmanesh

Various bacteria belonging to Enterobacteriaceae are known to be agents causing blackleg and soft rot in potato. In this study, a rapid and specific detection method was used to investigate bacteria in some northwestern provinces of Iran (Zanjan, Kordestan and eastern Azarbaijan). 26 strains were selected for the study that had been identified in previous studies as representative pathogens, they were as follows: 14 Pectobactrium carotovorum subsp carotovorum, 7 Dickeya chrysanthemi and 5 Pectobactrium atrosepticum. Primers Y1/Y2, Expccf/r, ADE1/2 and Eca1f/r, published as specific primers for the pathogens. They were tested to determine if they could be used for specific amplification of DNA in the strains. The expected specific fragment was not amplified in many strains or several non-specific bands, some close to those expected fragments were amplified. Specific primers for amplification of the DNA of pathogens were designed by sequencing the ITS region from representative strains and a PCR test
was developed. In the PCR test a 300 bp fragment was amplified from all strains collected from the provinces. In specificity tests, no PCR products were obtained from other bacteria belonging to other genera.