Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. brasiliensis has been proposed to be the major causal agent of blackleg of potato (Solanum tuberosum) in Brazil. In order to identify this subspecies, primers were selected from heterologous regions of recA genes present in P. carotovorum subsp. brasiliensis ATCC BAA-41, P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum BAB1, and other DNA sequences of pectobacteria available in the GenBank. These primers, however, showed low specificity. The recA gene PCR product, a DNA fragment of ± 730 bp, from 38 strains of P. chrysanthemi, subspecies of P. carotovorum, was digested with TasI and HhaI restriction enzymes. These enzymes were selected based on the sequences of recA gene from strains of P. carotovorum subsp. brasiliensis ATCC BAA-416 (581 pb) and P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum BAB1 (626 pb). The restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis with TasI and HhaI enzymes generated seven and 12 patterns, respectively. Analysis of the combined results allowed for the separation of 13 distinct groups and differentiation of P. carotovorum subsp.brasiliensis.
pectobacteria; blackleg of potato; potato; Solanum tuberosum
