Characterization of Pseudomonas syringae Strains Associated with Shoot Blight of Raspberry and Blackberry in Serbia.

During May 2016, severe blight symptoms were observed in several raspberry and blackberry fields in Serbia. In total, 22 strains were isolated: 16 from symptomatic raspberry shoots, 2 from asymptomatic raspberry leaves, and 4 from symptomatic blackberry shoots. Additionally, eight raspberry strains, isolated earlier from two similar outbreaks, were included in the study. Pathogenicity of the strains was confirmed on detached raspberry and blackberry shoots by reproducing the symptoms of natural infection. The strains were Gram-negative, fluorescent on King's medium B, ice nucleation positive, and utilized glucose oxidatively. All strains were levan positive, oxidase negative, nonpectolytic, arginine dihydrolase negative, and induced hypersensitivity in tobacco leaves (LOPAT + - - - +, Pseudomonas group Ia). Furthermore, all strains liquefied gelatin and hydrolyzed aesculin but did not show tyrosinase activity or utilize tartrate (GATTa + + - -). Tentative identification using morphology, LOPAT, GATTa, and ice-nucleating ability tests suggested that isolated strains belong to Pseudomonas syringae. The syrB gene associated with syringomycin production was detected in all strains. DNA fingerprints with REP, ERIC, and BOX primers generated identical profiles for 29 strains, except for strain KBI 222, which showed a unique genomic fingerprint. In all, 9 of 10 selected strains exhibited identical sequences of four housekeeping genes: gyrB, rpoD, gapA, and gltA. Five nucleotide polymorphisms were found in strain KBI 222 at the rpoD gene locus only. In the phylogenetic tree based on a concatenated sequence of all four housekeeping genes, strains clustered within phylogroup 2 (i.e., genomospecies 1) of the P. syringae species complex, with pathotype strains of P. syringae pv. aceris and P. syringae pv. solidagae as their closest relatives. There was no correlation between genotype and geographic origin, particular outbreak, host, or cultivar.

Complete Genome of the Xanthomonas euvesicatoria Specific Bacteriophage KΦ1, Its Survival and Potential in Control of Pepper Bacterial Spot.

Xanthomonas euvesicatoria phage KΦ1, a member of Myoviridae family, was isolated from the rhizosphere of pepper plants showing symptoms of bacterial spot. The phage strain expressed antibacterial activity to all X. euvesicatoria strains tested and did not lyse other Xanthomonas spp., nor other less related bacterial species. The genome of KΦ1 is double-stranded DNA of 46.077 bp including 66 open reading frames and an average GC content of 62.9%, representing the first complete genome sequence published for a phage infecting xanthomonads associated with pepper or tomato. The highest genome similarity was observed between phage KΦ1 and the Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae specific phage OP2. On the other hand, when compared with other members of the genus Bcep78virus, the genome similarity was lower. Forty-four (67%) predicted KΦ1 proteins shared homology with Xanthomonas phage OP2, while 20 genes (30%) were unique to KΦ1. Phage KΦ1, which is chloroform resistant and stable in different media and in the pH range 5-11, showed a high titer storage ability for at least 2 years at +4°C. Copper-hydroxide and copper-oxychloride reduced phage activity proportionally to the used concentrations and the exposure time. UV light was detrimental to the phage strain, but skim milk plus sucrose formulation extended its survival in vitro. The phages survived for at least 7 days on the surface of pepper leaves in the greenhouse, showing the ability to persist on the plant tissue without the presence of the host bacterium. Results of three repeated experiments showed that foliar applications of the unformulated KΦ1 phage suspension effectively controlled pepper bacterial spot compared to the standard treatment and the untreated control. The integration of the phage KΦ1 and copper-hydroxide treatments resulted in an increased efficacy compared to the copper-hydroxide alone.

Draft Genome Sequences of Agrobacterium nepotum Strain 39/7T and Agrobacterium sp. Strain KFB 330.

Tumorigenic strains of Agrobacterium spp. are responsible for crown gall disease of numerous plant species. We present here draft genome sequences of nonpathogenic Agrobacterium nepotum strain 39/7(T) (CFBP 7436(T), LMG 26435(T)), isolated from crown gall tumor on Prunus cerasifera, and tumorigenic Agrobacterium sp. strain KFB 330 (CFBP 8308, LMG 28674), isolated from galls on raspberry.

Agrobacterium arsenijevicii sp. nov., isolated from crown gall tumors on raspberry and cherry plum.

Two plant-tumorigenic strains KFB 330(T) and KFB 335 isolated from galls on raspberry (Rubus idaeus) in Serbia, and a non-pathogenic strain AL51.1 recovered from a cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera) tumor in Poland, were genotypically and phenotypically characterized. Phylogenetic reconstruction based on 16S rDNA placed them within the genus Agrobacterium, with A. nepotum as their closest relative. Multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) based on the partial sequences of atpD, glnA, gyrB, recA and rpoB housekeeping genes suggested that these three strains represent a new Agrobacterium species, that clustered with type strains of A. nepotum, A. radiobacter, "A. fabrum" and A. pusense. This was further supported by average nucleotide identity values (<92%) between the whole genome sequences of strain KFB 330(T) and related Agrobacterium species. The major cellular fatty acids of the novel strains were 18:1 w7c (72.8-77.87%) and 16:0 (6.82-8.58%). Phenotypic features allowed their differentiation from closely related species. Polyphasic characterization showed that the three strains represent a novel species of the genus Agrobacterium, for which the name Agrobacterium arsenijevicii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of A. arsenijevicii is KFB 330(T) (= CFBP 8308(T) = LMG 28674(T)).