Pcr primers for detection and identification of plant pathogenic species, subspecies, and strains of acidovorax

Abstract

We sequenced a 619 and 617 bp fragment of the inner spacer region of 16S-23S rDNA of a strain of representing pathogens from several hosts, including foxtail, oats, corn, rice, millet, sugarcane, orchid, and watermelon and a strain of subsp. pathogenic only to watermelon and melons, respectively, for the purpose of designing PCR primers for their identification. These plant pathogens were previously considered as non-fluorescent pseudomonads and have been recently reclassified as subsp. avenae, subsp. , and subsp. . Several sets of primers were designed. Primers identified by SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:2 of subsp. reacted with all strains of subsp. (previously named or ) originating from foxtail, oats, corn, rice, sugarcane, and millet, subsp. (previously named subsp. ) from orchid, and subsp. (previously named subsp. ) from watermelon and melon. Primers identified by SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, and SEQ ID NO:6 of subsp. reacted with all strains of subsp. , but not with any other strain of subsp. . Primers identified by SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, and SEQ ID NO:12, reacted with the rice strains of subsp. , but not with any other strain of subsp. or any other subspecies of . None of fifty-three other bacteria tested reacted with these sets of primers. The citrulli-specific primers and rice strain-specific primers should prove especially useful for the specific, sensitive, and rapid detection of these serious seedborne pathogens in watermelon and rice seeds, respectively.