Genotypic and phenotypic variability of Pectobacterium strains causing blackleg and soft rot on potato in Turkey

Pectinolytic bacteria were isolated from 48 potato plants showing the symptoms of blackleg and collected in different fields of commercial potato production areas at Samsun, Amasya, Corum and Yozgat provinces in Turkey in 2015. The survey resulted in the isolation of 26 pectinolytic strains that belonged to P. atrosepticum, P. carotovorum subsp. brasiliense, P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum and P. parmentieri species based on molecular identification with species-specific PCR and phenotypic characterization. The identified strains indicated typical biochemical characteristics of the assigned species. For 16 representative Pectobacterium isolates 10 unique rep-PCR band patterns were obtained. The 16S rRNA and recA and gapA gene fragment sequencing confirmed the species identity of the isolates. The phenotypic characterization of the strains revealed that for all assays but one (cellulase, protease activity, swimming but not swarming), the tested Pectobacterium species were significantly different from each other proving the diversity of the strains belonging to these genera. Recent outbreaks of blackleg and/or soft rot in potato production areas in Turkey may pose a threat on other crops, as tomato, pepper, cucumber, onion, cabbage, broccoli and sugar beet are cultivated in the same provinces.