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Genetic diversity of tumorigenic bacteria associated with crown gall disease of raspberry in Serbia

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Abstract

During the last 3 years, crown gall disease was observed in some young raspberry plantations throughout Serbia, causing considerable economic losses. Based on biochemical and physiological tests, PCR targeting the 23S rRNA gene, and 16S rRNA and recA gene sequence analysis, at least two different species were identified as causal agents of disease. Out of 14 strains isolated from raspberry tumors, 12 were identified as tumorigenic Rhizobium rhizogenes, one belonged to Agrobacterium tumefaciens genomic species G8, while the remaining strain formed a separate phylogenetic lineage within A. tumefaciens species complex, different from all known genomic species. All strains investigated harbored nopaline-type of Ti plasmid and showed identical pathogenic properties by inoculating several test plants. However, they were divided into two genetic groups based on PCR-RFLP analysis of Ti plasmid virA-virB2 region. Furthermore, total of nine unique ERIC-PCR profiles were identified among the strains studied. Although strains of R. rhizogenes exhibited similar ERIC-PCR profiles, they were differentiated into six distinct genetic groups. Based on the fact that some genetic groups were composed of strains originating from different geographic areas, it can be assumed that they have a common origin and were probably disseminated by movement of infected plant material.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the project III46008 financed by Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Republic of Serbia, and EU Commission project AREA, No 316004. The authors gratefully acknowledge Enrico Biondi, Gerald V. Minsavage, Jeffrey B. Jones, Joanna Puławska, Sandor Süle and Subrata K. Das for kindly providing bacterial strains. We also thank Joanna Puławska for critical reading of the manuscript and helpful comments.

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  1. University of Belgrade-Faculty of Agriculture, Nemanjina 6, 11080, Belgrade, Serbia

    Nemanja Kuzmanović, Anđelka Prokić, Milan Ivanović, Nevena Zlatković & Aleksa Obradović

  2. Department of Plant Pathology, Institute for Plant Protection and Environment, Teodora Drajzera 9, 11040, Belgrade, Serbia

    Katarina Gašić

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  1. Nemanja Kuzmanović
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  2. Anđelka Prokić
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Correspondence to Nemanja Kuzmanović.

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The DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank accession numbers for the partial 16S rRNA gene sequences of strains KFB 323, KFB 330 and KFB 337 are: KP172481-KP172483, respectively. Accession numbers for the partial recA gene sequences of strains KFB 323, KFB 330, KFB 337, MAL 1.1.2, MAL 1.1.4, 39/7T and NRCPB10T are: KP172484-KP172489 and KP284164, respectively.

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Kuzmanović, N., Prokić, A., Ivanović, M. et al. Genetic diversity of tumorigenic bacteria associated with crown gall disease of raspberry in Serbia. Eur J Plant Pathol 142, 701–713 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-015-0645-4

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