Biodiversity of Dickeya spp. Isolated from Potato Plants and Water Sources in Temperate Climate

Abstract

Bacteria from the genera Dickeya (formerly Erwinia chrysanthemi) and Pectobacterium (formerly E. carotovora) are the agents of blackleg and soft rot on many important crops. In 2005, Dickeya solani was isolated for the first time in Poland from a symptomatic potato plant. To establish the presence and diversity of Dickeya spp. in Poland, we surveyed potato fields and water sources, including surface waters near potato fields and water from potato-processing facilities and sewage plants. Only D. dianthicola and D. solani were isolated from symptomatic potato, and only D. zeae and D. chrysanthemi were isolated from water sources. The Dickeya spp. isolated from potato formed a relatively homogenous group, while those from water sources were more diverse. To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive characterization of Dickeya spp. isolated during several years from regions with a temperate climate in Central Europe.

The effect of temperature on the phenotypic features and the maceration ability of Dickeya solani strains isolated in Finland, Israel and Poland

“…How does it relate to the hot and semi-arid climate in Israel with hot summer? Works of Degefu et al (2013) and Potrykus et al (2016) Polish strains also had the highest total pectate lyases activity estimated spectrophotometrically. In our studies four out of five Israeli strains exhibited low pectate lyase activity in the applied conditions.…”

“…They also possess features which allow for more effective colonization and faster spread through the plant vascular system than in the case of D. dianthicola (Czajkowski et al 2010). All previously characterized D. solani strains indicated identical rep-PCR and PFGE profiles (Degefu et al 2013;Tsror (Lahkim) et al 2013;van der Wolf et al 2014;Potrykus et al 2016). However, the comparison of genome sequences of several D. solani strains indicated the existence of some differences within the studied strains caused probably by the horizontal gene transfer (Khayi et al 2015).…”

“…Laurila et al (Laurila et al 2008;Laurila et al 2010) and Degefu et al (2013) reported the presence of D. solani strains in Finland. Also, the strains of D. solani were isolated from potato plants with blackleg and soft rot symptoms in France, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Switzerland (Palacio-Bielsa et al 2006;Helias 2006;Czajkowski et al 2009;Slawiak et al 2009a;Toth et al 2011;Gill et al 2014;Potrykus et al 2016). Besides, Tsror et al (Tsor (Lahkim) et al 2009;Tsror (Lahkim) et al 2013) isolated D. solani strains from blackleg diseased potato plants in Israel. In the recent years, potato losses are caused, apart from the Dickeya strains, also by other pectinolytic bacteria known as tropical and subtropical pathogens, e.g.…”

“…The question why D. solani has spread throughout Europe and caused more severe losses than D. dianthicola has been raised by researchers across Europe (Czajkowski et al 2009;Toth et al 2011;Degefu et al 2013;Potrykus et al 2016). Studies show that these pathogens are able to induce diseases at the lower inoculum levels, produce more PCWDE and in addition possess an arsenal of T5SS/T6SS secreted proteins exhibiting more diverse functions than just destroying the plant cell-wall (Toth et al 2011;Garlant et al 2013;Pedron et al 2014;Khayi et al 2015;Potrykus et al 2016).…”

“…Studies show that these pathogens are able to induce diseases at the lower inoculum levels, produce more PCWDE and in addition possess an arsenal of T5SS/T6SS secreted proteins exhibiting more diverse functions than just destroying the plant cell-wall (Toth et al 2011;Garlant et al 2013;Pedron et al 2014;Khayi et al 2015;Potrykus et al 2016). …”