Abstract
Survival time ofErwinia carotovora var.carotovora (Ecc) andE.c. var.atroseptica (Eca), causal agents of potato blackleg and bacterial soft rot, was determined both internally and externally on two known insect vectors,Drosophila melanogaster Meig. andD. busckii Coq. The results indicate that the two bacterial varieties survived internally on both vectors for 48 hours and in some cases up to 72 hours.Ecc andEca survived externally on both vectors for at least 24 hours and in some cases at low levels for 48 hours. The two varieties of bacteria declined in number with elapsed time both internally and externally. We suggest that the vectors enhance survival of the non-spore formingErwinia cells outside the plant host. The enhanced survival, combined with the dispersal ability of the vectors, increases the destructive potential of these bacteria. There appeared to be no differential survival of the two bacterial varieties on the vectors studied that might account for the differential transmission reported by previous workers.
Resumen
Se condujeron experimentos para determinar el tiempo de sobrevivencia deErwinia carotovora var.carotovora (Ecc) yE.c. var.atroseptica (Eca), patógenos causantes de pierna negra y pudredumbre bacteriana de la papa, en estructuras internas y externas de dos insectos de las bacterias,Drosophila melanogaster Meig. yDrosophila busckii Coq. Los resultados indican que las dos variedades de bacteria sobrevivieron 48 horas, y en ciertos casos hasta 72 horas, en estructuras de ambas especies de insectos vectores.Ecc yEca sobrevivieron por los menos 24 horas, y en números muy reducidos hasta 48 horas, en la superficie externa de ambos vectores. El número de células de ambas variedades decayó en función al tiempo transcurrido en estructuras externas e internas. Sugerimos que los vectores protegen las células deErwinia, que no producen esporas, contra condiciones ambientales y aumentan el tiempo de sobrevivencia fuera de la planta huesped. Esta protección, junto con las capacidad de dispersión de los vectores, aumentan el potencial destructivo de estas bacterias. No fueron evidentes diferencias de sobrevivencia entre las dos variedades de bacteria que oudieran ser causa de la transmisión diferencial notada por otros investigadores.
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Brewer, J.W., Harrison, M.D. & Winston, J.A. Survival of two varieties ofErwinia carotovora onDrosophila melanogaster meigen andDrosophila busckii Coquillett, (Diptera:Drosophilidae) vectors of potato blackleg in Colorado. American Potato Journal 58, 439–449 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02874541
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02874541