Occurrence and Identification of <i>Pectobacterium carotovorum</i> subsp. <i>brasiliensis</i> and <i>Dickeya dianthicola</i> Causing Blackleg in Some Potato Fields in Serbia

Blackleg outbreaks were noticed on three fields (about 100 ha total) in 2 consecutive years (2018, 2019) one of the main potato growing areas Serbia (Bačka region, Vojvodina). The percentage infected plants reached 40 to 70%, with 10.5 44.7% yield reductions. From fields, out 90 samples Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. brasiliensis was most frequently identified and diagnosed as causal agent blackleg for first time (29 isolates). Dickeya dianthicola a less causative bacterium, which also (nine A total 38 isolates characterized based their phenotypic genetic features, including pathogenicity test potato. repetitive element PCR (rep-PCR) using BOX, REP, ERIC primer pairs differentiated five profiles among tested isolates. Multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) four housekeeping genes, acnA, gapA, icdA, mdh, revealed presence so far unknown P. c. multilocus genotypes confirmed clustering into two clades determined other studies. MLSA new genotype D. Serbia.