Detection of tabtoxin-producing strains of Pseudomonas syringae by PCR.
OBJECTIVE
The present study describes a system based on PCR to distinguish tabtoxin-producing strains of Pseudomonas syringae from other Ps. syringae plant pathogens that produce chlorosis-inducing phytotoxins.


RESULTS
Thirty-two strains of Ps. syringae and related species were examined. Two sets of PCR primers were developed to amplify genes (tblA and tabA) required for tabtoxin production. Only a PCR product of 829 bp or 1020 bp was produced in PCR reactions with the tblA or tabA primer sets, respectively, and cells from tabtoxin-producing pathovars of Pseudomonas syringae. All known non-tabtoxin producing bacterial species failed to produce an amplification product with either primer set.


CONCLUSIONS
PCR of genes required for tabtoxin production is a simple, rapid and reliable method for identifying tabtoxin-producing strains of Ps. syringae.


CONCLUSIONS
The protocol can effectively distinguish tabtoxin-producing strains of Ps. syringae from other Ps. syringae pathovars and Ps. syringae pv. tabaci strains from other tabtoxin-producing Ps. syringae pathovars.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA. lydonj@ba.ars.usda.gov
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J
Lydon
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CD
Patterson
D004151:Dipeptides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics
D004151:Dipeptides; C003854:tabtoxin