Molecular techniques to identify Pantoea stewartii subsp. stewartii and differentiate strains
A one-step PCR assay has been developed to detect specifically Pantoea stewartii subsp. stewartii (EPPO A2 quarantine pest). Four sets of primers were tested and all gave satisfactory results. Under optimal reaction conditions, about 20 and 200 cells of P. stewartii subsp. stewartii could be detected in pure cultures and leaf lesions, respectively. Other tested bacteria (P. agglomerans pv. herbicola, P. ananas, Erwinia amylovora and E. carotovora) gave negative results (no amplicon or amplicons of a different size). However, three P. ananas strains isolated from lesions on old maize leaves gave a weak reaction. Another test was also developed (pulsed field gel electrophoresis). It can be used as an additional test to confirm the identity of P. stewartii subsp. stewartii, and to differentiate between strains of the bacterium which could be particularly useful in epidemiological studies.
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Coplin, D.L.; Majerczak, D.R.; Zhang, Y.; Kim, W.S.; Jock, S.; Geider, K. (2002) Identification of Pantoea stewartii subsp. stewartii by PCR and strain differentiation by PFGE.
Plant Disease, 86(3), 304-311.
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