Fatty acid analysis of Erwinia amylovora from Serbia and Montenegro

Abstract

Automated method of fatty acid analysis was used to identify and study heterogeneity of 41 Erwinia amylovora strains, originating from 8 plant species grown in 13 locations in Serbia and one in Montenegro. All strains contained 14:0 3OH fatty acid, characteristic for the ?amylovora? group. According to fatty acid composition 39 strains were identified as E. amylovora as the first choice from the database. Due to their specific fatty acid composition, two strains were identified as E. amylovora, but as a second choice. Fatty acid analysis also showed that E. amylovora population from Serbia could be differentiated in three groups, designated in this study as ?, ? and ?. All strains originating from central or south Serbia, as well as four strains from north Serbia clustered into group ?. Group ? and ? contained only strains isolated in northern Serbia (Vojvodina). The results show that E. amylovora population in this area is heterogeneous and indicate pathogen introduction from different directions. Fatty acid analysis enabled identification at species level, as well as new insights of heterogeneity of E. amylovora population.