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Characterization of Pseudomonas viridiflava isolates associated with a new leaf spot disease in Cichorium species

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Abstract

Common chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) as well as the spiny chicory (Cichorium spinosum L.) or “stamnagathi” in Greek, a bitter—sweet wild green, are two vegetables belonging to the Asteraceae family. Both species are commercially cultivated in outdoor fields and in greenhouses in various regions of Greece and particularly in Crete. During the years, 2014 and 2015 severe damage occurred in crops of C. intybus and C. spinosum in Crete. Typical symptoms in affected plants were marginal spots and lesions on leaves, and leaf blight. Initially, lesions appeared as water-soaked that later became brown, dry and papery, usually surrounded by a thin yellow halo or a brown to black border. Spots were gradually expanded and coalesced each other causing the blight of the leaves and finally the necrosis of the whole plant. In some cases, the diseased incidence reached 20 to 30% causing a significant reduction in yield and marketability of the product. The study of morphological, physiological and biochemical traits of the isolates as well as the pathogenicity tests indicated that the isolated bacteria belonged to group II of LOPAT discriminative tests, which contain the strains of Pseudomonas viridiflava. The phylogenetic analysis based on the B subunit of the gyrase gene (gyrB), and the amplification of a species-specific fragment confirmed P. viridiflava as the causal agent of the disease. This is the first record of the bacterium P. viridiflava as a pathogen of the common chicory in Greece as well as the spiny chicory worldwide. The disease can result in severe crop losses; hence, effective management practices should be investigated and applied.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the Education and Research Committee, Hellenic Mediterranean University (Research Actions of Phytopathology lab).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Biological and Biotechnological Applications, Department of Agriculture, School of Agricultural Sciences, Hellenic Mediterranean University, 71004, Heraklion Crete, Greece

    Emmanouil A. Trantas, Dimitris Malliarakis, Evaggelia E. Mpalantinaki, Marianthi G. Pagoulatou, Filippos Ververidis & Dimitrios E. Goumas

  2. Institute of Agri-Food and Life Sciences, University Research Centre, Hellenic Mediterranean University, 71410, Heraklion, Greece

    Emmanouil A. Trantas, Filippos Ververidis & Dimitrios E. Goumas

  3. Laboratory of Mycology, Department of Viticulture, Vegetable Crops, Floriculture and Plant Protection, Institute of Olive Tree, Subtropical Crops and Viticulture, Hellenic Agricultural Organization “DIMITRA”, 71307, Heraklion, Greece

    Emmanouil A. Markakis

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  1. Emmanouil A. Trantas
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  2. Dimitris Malliarakis
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All authors contributed to the study conception, design, and implementation. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Emmanouil Trantas and all authors contributed to the creation of the final edition. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Emmanouil A. Trantas.

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Trantas, E.A., Malliarakis, D., Mpalantinaki, E.E. et al. Characterization of Pseudomonas viridiflava isolates associated with a new leaf spot disease in Cichorium species. J Plant Pathol 104, 1061–1070 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42161-022-01134-x

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