Journal of Plant Pathology & Microbiology

Determination and management of quorum sensing signals produced by Pectobacterium, a blackleg pathogen

2^nd International Conference on Plant Science & Physiology

June 26-27, 2017 Bangkok, Thailand

Akhtar Hameed, Sohaib Sarfraz, Syeda Qamar Batool, Nadia Liaqat, M Waqar Alam, Sahar Jameel and Kashif Riaz

University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Plant Pathol Microbiol

Abstract:

Blackleg, a bacterial disease caused by Pectobacterium atrosepticum (Pba) inflicts incredible losses to potato crop in fields. In Pectobacteria, pathogenicity and virulence is regulated through quorum sensing (QS) in a density dependent manner utilizing N-acyl homoserine lactones (NAHLs) as QS signaling molecules. Interference with QS through Quorum quenching (natural or engineered) is a demonstrated biocontrol tool. In this study, potato plants with characteristic blackleg symptoms from Okara district of Punjab were investigated and the pathogen responsible for the disease was identified as Pba through pathogenicity, biochemical (Crystal Violet Pectate) and tuber assays. PCR analysis of Pectobacterium was also done by using gene specific primers. NAHLs produced by the local Pba strains were determined and evaluated through biosensor based plate assays using Chromobacterium violaceum (Cv026) and Agrobacterium tumefaciens (NTLR-4) biosensors. Also, several NAHL degrading strains were sorted out from rhizosphere soil and their ability to degrade exogenous NAHLs was evaluated. Out of 38 bacterial isolates, eight effective quenchers were then trialed against Pectobacterium under plate and tuber assays that effectively reduced Pectobacterium based infections.

Biography :

Email: akhtar3122@gmail.com