Grapevine crown gall caused by Rhizobium radiobacter (Ti) in Japan

Abstract

In 2005, characteristic symptoms of crown gall on grapevines (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Muscat of Alexandria, and cv. Seto Giants) were observed in a commercial greenhouse-orchard in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. Isolations from diseased tissues consistently yielded bacterial colonies that were white, glistening, and produced abundant polysaccharide on potato semi-synthetic agar (PSA) medium. Ten representative isolates were chosen for further characterization. A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay showed these strains were not Rhizobium vitis but did possess a Ti plasmid. The bacteriological characteristics of the isolates corresponded well with R. radiobacter. The almost complete 16S ribosomal DNA sequences of isolates AT06-1 and AT06-2, selected from 10 grapevine isolates, were determined and corresponded to sequences of R. radiobacter. The pathogenicity of the isolates was tested on young grapevine and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) plants. Gall symptoms developed on both plant species after inoculation, and bacteria with the same colony morphology as those inoculated were reisolated. Based on these results, the isolates were identified as R. radiobacter (Ti). This report is the first of the occurrence of R. radiobacter (Ti) on grapevine in Japan. Phylogenetic analyses using the partial nucleotide sequences of virC operon located on a Ti plasmid showed that the isolate of R. radiobacter (Ti) isolated from grapevine and some strains of R. vitis (Ti) belonged to the same monophyletic group, which differed from the groups of R. radiobacter (Ti) isolated from plants other than grapevine and of the majority of R. vitis (Ti) strains isolated from grapevine.

Reduction in Pathogen Populations at Grapevine Wound Sites is Associated with the Mechanism Underlying the Biological Control of Crown Gall by <i>Rhizobium vitis</i> Strain ARK-1

“…We previously reported that the nonpathogenic R. vitis strain, VAR03-1, which was isolated from a grapevine nursery stock in Japan, inhibited tumor formation caused by several R. radiobacter (Ti), R. rhizogenes (Ti), and R. vitis (Ti) strains isolated from different plants in Japan on grapevines, roses, tomatoes, sunflowers, and apples (18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25). Repetitive sequence-based polymerase chain reaction (rep-PCR) DNA fingerprint analysis and an analysis of the sequences of three housekeeping genes revealed that VAR03-1 differed genetically from the tumorigenic and non-antagonistic R. vitis strains (21, 26).…”

Biological Control for Grapevine Crown Gall Evaluated by a Network Meta-Analysis

“…Rhizobium vitis (Ti), Agrobacterium vitis (Ti), and A. tumefaciens biovar 3), where Ti means tumorigenic [ 1 , 2 ]. A. vitis (Ti) infects grapevines through wounds, such as freezing injuries, cutting damage, and grafting [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]. GCG is a pandemic throughout the world [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ].…”

“…GCG is a pandemic throughout the world [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]. Galls generally form on the trunks and cordons of young and mature grapevines [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]. Infected grapevines often experience inferior growth, but the galls cause grapevine death [ 7 ].…”