[Identification of the Burkholderia cepacia complex genomovars and their virulence in an alfalfa infection model].
OBJECTIVE
To confirm Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) genomovars from agricultural niches and clinical samples, and to evaluate their possible virulence to human body on alfalfa infection model in China.


METHODS
A total of 57 Bcc strains were isolated and collected from the rhizosphere, soil and clinical samples in China. The genomovars composition of the Bcc strains was analyzed by species-specific PCR tests, and the virulence of the Bce strains was tested on alfalfa seedlings.


RESULTS
Four genomovars of the ten genomovars were detected among the Bcc strains, including B. cepacia (genomovar I), B. cenocepacia (genomovar III), B. vietnamiensis (genomovarV) and B. pyrrocinia (genomovar IX). Bcc genomovars I and III A from clinic, and genomovar III B from rhizosphere were the most virulent in the alfalfa infection model, and caused symptoms in 69%, 68% and 55% of seedlings, respectively. There were significant variances in the mean percentage of seedlings with symptoms for genomovars I , III A and III B compared to those for genomovar V and IX.


CONCLUSIONS
There was difference in the ability to cause disease in alfalfa for different genomovar strains from agricultural inches. The strains of Bcc genomovar III B from rhizosphere were more virulent similar to those of Bcc genomovar III A from clinic.
Zhang
Lixin
L
College of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China. zhanglixinjoyce@163.com
Song
Jianghua
J
Xie
Guanlin
G
D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D019121:Burkholderia Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D042602:Burkholderia cepacia complex / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D002681:China; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000032:analysis*; D000455:Medicago sativa / Q000382:microbiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014774:Virulence
D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S