Development of qPCR Detection Assay for Potato Pathogen Pectobacterium atrosepticum Based on a Unique Target Sequence.

Anna A Lukianova,Peter V Evseev,Konstantin A Miroshnikov,Irina B Kotova,Alexander N Ignatov,Alexander A Stakheev,Sergey K Zavriev

doi:10.3390/plants10020355

Abstract

The recent taxonomic diversification of bacterial genera Pectobacterium and Dickeya, which cause soft rot in plants, focuses attention on the need for improvement of existing methods for the detection and differentiation of these phytopathogens. This research presents a whole genome-based approach to the selection of marker sequences unique to particular species of Pectobacterium. The quantitative real-time PCR assay developed is selective in the context of all tested Pectobacterium atrosepticum strains and is able to detect fewer than 102 copies of target DNA per reaction. The presence of plant DNA extract did not affect the sensitivity of the assay.

Highlights

Soft rot Pectobacteriaceae (SRP) cause blackleg and soft rot in potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.), one of the most important food crops in the world
Despite the impaired ability of Pat to grow at higher temperatures [3,4], recent reports indicate that Pat can be a causative agent for potato soft rot in countries with a mostly hot climate, such as Egypt [5], Pakistan [6] and Indonesia [7]
As of mid-2020, the GenBank bacterial database contained 142 complete and draft genome sequences assigned to the Pectobacterium genus and 65 complete and draft genome sequences assigned to closely related SRPs of the Dickeya genus

Summary

Introduction

Soft rot Pectobacteriaceae (SRP) cause blackleg and soft rot in potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.), one of the most important food crops in the world. These diseases contribute substantially to crop damage, which results in considerable economic loss [1]. Atrosepticum, is an example of SRP and is recognized as being among the most significant bacterial pathogens of potatoes [2]. Pat aggressively colonizes the surface and the vascular system of potatoes, and in favorable conditions, the symptoms of the disease develop very quickly. Considered to be specific to the potato, Pat is identified as a cause of bacterial diseases in sunflowers [8,9]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion