Open AccessPectobacterium carotovorum subsp. Carotovorum: The causal agent of calla soft rot in Serbia and Montenegro
Author(s) -
Milan Ivanović,
Katarina Gašić,
Veljko Gavrilović,
Aleksa Obradović
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
pesticidi i fitomedicina
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2406-1026
pISSN - 1820-3949
DOI - 10.2298/pif0904287i
Subject(s) - pectobacterium carotovorum , calla , biology , pectobacterium , microbiology and biotechnology , pathogen , bacteria , botany , genetics , immunology , antibody , monoclonal antibody
Bacterial strains were isolated from above- and underground parts of diseased calla plants originating from different localities in Serbia and one locality in Montenegro. They were characterized by studying their pathogenic, cultural, biochemical and physiological characteristics. All investigated strains caused soft rot of calla leaf stalks, potato slices and aloe leaves, and induced hypersensitive reaction on tobacco. Bacteriological properties of the strains indicated that symptoms on calla plants were caused by Gram-negative, nonfluorescent, oxidase negative, catalase positive and facultatively anaerobic bacterium belonging to the genus Pectobacterium. The investigated strains grew at 37?C and in 5% NaCl, utilised lactose and trechalose, and produced neither indol nor lecitinase. These results, as well as the characteristic growth on Logan's differential medium indicated that soft rot of tuber and stem base of calla plants was caused by Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum. This is the first report of this pathogen affecting calla plants in Serbia.