Characterisation of Pectinolytic Bacillus pumilus and Paenibacillus amyloliticus Strains, New Pathogens of Potato in Tunisia

Soft rot disease in potato is a major problem fields and warehouses all over the world. Although it known that bacteria from genera Pectobacterium Dickeya are main causative agents of soft diseases, recent studies indicate involvement pectinolytic Bacillus Paenibacillus this disease. In present research, samples with symptoms were collected eight governorates Tunisia. Two hundred seventy bacterial isolates acquired tubers. Twenty isolated strains indicted activity by forming deep cavities on crystal violet pectate medium. All able to macerate tuber tissue. Phenotypic characterisation showed these Gram-positive bacilli, exhibiting pectinolytic, cellulolytic, proteolytic amylolytic activity. The majority indicated swimming swarming motility. application API test, MALDI-TOF MS 16S rDNA sequencing allowed for assignment nineteen tested species pumilus one amyloliticus. To best our knowledge, first report caused B.