Pectobacterium carotovorum Subsp. brasiliense Causing Soft Rot in Eggplant in Xinjiang, China

An outbreak of stem rot in eggplants was observed in Heshuo County, Xinjiang, during winter 2021-2022 in about 12-35% of the eggplants in the region (about 40 hm(2)). The infected tissues yielded a total of four bacterial strains, which were subsequently subjected to physiological and biochemical assays as well as molecular identification. Based on these analyses, the pathogen was identified as Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. brasiliense. The pathogenicity was confirmed through the fulfillment of Koch's postulates. The host range test confirmed the broad spectrum of species susceptible to infection by the strains. This study represents the first case of infection caused by P. carotovorum subsp. brasiliense resulting in stem rot in eggplant.

Automated summary

An outbreak of stem rot in eggplants was observed in Heshuo County, Xinjiang, during winter 2021-2022, affecting 12-35% of the eggplants in the region. Four bacterial strains were isolated from the infected tissues and identified as Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. brasiliense. Koch's postulates confirmed the pathogenicity of the strains, and a host range test showed their broad spectrum of infectivity. This study reports the first case of stem rot in eggplants caused by P. carotovorum subsp. brasiliense.