VIEW ARTICLE

Etiology

Serological and Physiological Differentiation Among Isolates of Erwinia carotovora from Potato and Sugarbeet. M. E. Stanghellini, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721; D. C. Sands(2), W. C. Kronland(3), and M. M. Mendonca(4). (2)Department of Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59715; (3)(4)Department of Plant Pathology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721. Phytopathology 67:1178-1182. Accepted for publication 2 March 1977. Copyright © 1977 The American Phytopathological Society, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121. All rights reserved.. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-67-1178.

Antisera produced against six isolates of Erwinia carotovora were effective in differentiating sugarbeet from potato isolates of E. carotovora var. atroseptica. Two distinct biotypes of the sugarbeet pathogen were serologically and physiologically identified. Sugarbeet isolates from Willcox, AZ reacted only with antisera produced against an isolate from Willcox, whereas isolates from Washington, California, and Chandler, AZ reacted only with antisera produced against an isolate from Chandler. Methyl-β-D-galactopyranoside, galacturonic acid, and melibiose were utilized by all sugarbeet isolates from Willcox and most of the potato isolates, whereas sugarbeet isolates from Washington, California, and Chandler, AZ were incapable of utilizing these sugars. All sugarbeet isolates tolerated 7-9% NaCl in their culture medium and grew at 39 C, whereas potato isolates tolerated only 5-7% NaCl and did not grow at 39 C. Most sugarbeet isolates, but none of the potato isolates, produced a bacteriocin-like substance against E. carotovora var. carotovora (isolate E107). All sugarbeet isolates were pathogenic, whereas potato isolates, with the exception of isolate OBI, were nonpathogenic on sugarbeets. Isolate OBI, although obtained from potato, was physiologically and serologically identified as a Chandler sugarbeet biotype.