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Dickeya - Dickeya species in potato and flower bulbs risks and management strategies
Project
Project code: 2811ERA001
Contract period: 15.08.2012
- 14.02.2014
Budget: 83,903 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
In 2005, Erwinia chrysanthemi was divided in six species inside the genus Dickeya. Until recently, it was thought that only the 'cold tolerant' species Dickeya dianthicola (biovar 1 en 7) was present in Europe, causing the disease potato blackleg. Results acquired from a number of seed potato lots in last 5 years showed that a new variant (biovar 3) of Dickeya was isolated and that it did not match any of the described six species of Dickeya. This new variant, tentatively called “Dickeya solani”, was reported in several European countries (e.g. the Netherlands, Poland, Belgium, Finland, France, UK) and Israel. This new variant is also found in flower bulb crops, such as hyacinth and iris.
Surveys resulted in knowledge on the incidence of various blackleg and soft
rot causing bacteria, indicating the relative risks of infections with the various genetic clades of Dickeya for disease expression in the different climates. It also helped to understand the routes of dissemination of the pathogen. The strains derived from the isolations were the basis for all other activities and have been essential to find new genetic clades. The results showed that D. solani was detected in several samples in which Dickeya was identified in different European countries and, therefore, D. solani is not uncommon in the European potato fields. Additionally, disease incidence varied largely per year and it was in most of the cases strain dependent,as it has been demonstrated in studies performed in the last few years in different countries in Europe with several representatives of Dickeya spp.
Conclusion: New genetic variants among the Dickeya spp. have been found in different European countries, including D. solani, as demonstrated in the majority of the surveys performed in this EUPHRESCO II-project. The aggressiveness of these new genetic variants of Dickeya spp. depends largely on the climatic conditions present.
Section overview
Subjects
- Crop Protection
Funding programme
Excutive institution
Institute for National and International Plant Health (JKI-AG)
