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Characterization of Dickeya strains isolated from potato and river water samples in Finland

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Abstract

Plant pathogenic enterobacteria in the genera Pectobacterium and Dickeya (formerly classified as Erwinia) were isolated from diseased potato stems and tubers. The isolated bacteria were identified as P. atrosepticum, P. carotovorum and pathogens in the genus Dickeya with PCR tests. Furthermore, Dickeya strains were isolated from river water samples throughout the country. Phylogenetic analysis with 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer sequences suggested that the Dickeya strains could be divided into three groups, two of which were isolated from potato samples. Phylogenetic analysis with 16S rDNA sequences and growth at 39°C suggested that one of the groups corresponds to D. dianthicola, a quarantine pathogen in greenhouse cultivation of ornamentals, while two of the groups did not clearly resemble any of the previously characterised Dickeya species. Field trials with the strains indicated that D. dianthicola-like strains isolated from river samples caused the highest incidence of rotting and necrosis of potato stems, but some of the Dickeya strains isolated from potato samples also caused symptoms. The results showed that although P. atrosepticum is still the major cause of blackleg in Finland, virulent Dickeya strains were commonly present in potato stocks and rivers. This is the first report suggesting that Dickeya, originally known as a pathogen in tropical and warm climates, may cause diseases in potato in northern Europe.

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Acknowledgments

Laboratory assistants Satu Kostamo and Aila Sirén, technician Tuula Viljanen are thanked for their assistance. Dr. Ian Toth is thanked for the P. atrosepticum strains SCRI1039 and SCRI1043. We are also grateful to laboratory engineer Anneli Virta for the sequencing, to biometrician Lauri Jauhiainen for help in statistical analyses, to GIS expert Hannu Ojanen for preparing the map of the water sample sites and to Dr. Fred Stoddard for language checking and critically reading the manuscript. Finnish potato processing and seed potato companies and the Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira are thanked for samples and plant material and Finnzymes Ltd for the real-time PCR diagnostics. The present work was financially supported by the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (4868/501/03) and MTT Agrifood Research Finland.

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  1. Jaana Laurila

    Present address: Boreal Plant Breeding Ltd, Myllytie 10, 31600, Jokioinen, Finland

Authors and Affiliations

  1. MTT Agrifood Research Finland, Plant Production Research, 31600, Jokioinen, Finland

    Jaana Laurila, Ari Lehtinen, Tiina Joutsjoki & Asko Hannukkala

  2. MTT Agrifood Research Finland, Biotechnology and Food Research, 31600, Jokioinen, Finland

    Virpi Ahola

  3. Potato Research Institute, Ruosuontie 156, 16900, Lammi, Finland

    Anne Rahkonen

  4. Department of Applied Biology, Plant Pathology, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland

    Minna Pirhonen

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  1. Jaana Laurila
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  2. Virpi Ahola
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Correspondence to Minna Pirhonen.

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Laurila, J., Ahola, V., Lehtinen, A. et al. Characterization of Dickeya strains isolated from potato and river water samples in Finland. Eur J Plant Pathol 122, 213–225 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-008-9274-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-008-9274-5

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