Identification of a seed-borne rice bacterium, Burkholderia glumae using cultural, morphological and biochemical methods

Abstract

Burkholderia glumae is a seed-borne rice bacterium that causes bacterial panicle blight (BPB), which is a promising disease in many rice-growing areas around the world. The bacterium has been successfully grown on King’s B agar medium (KBM) at 280C for 48 hrs. It is Gram negative, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped with cell size 0.5 to 0.7 - 1.5 to 2.0 ?m with rounded ends. The colony appears as grayish white or yellow due to the pigment. The bacterium gave positive test in gelatin liquefaction, KOH solubility and nitrate reduction and while negative test in starch hydrolysis, oxidase reaction, levan production and arginine dihydrolase test. The bacterium utilized different carbon sources viz., sugars, amino acids, sugar alcohols and organic acids when examined through BiologTMGN2 Microplate System. This study would help in control and management of seed-borne bacterial plant pathogen B. glumae.