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Title: Genetic diversity in populations of Xanthomonas campestris pv. camestris in cruciferous weeds in central coastal California

Author
item IGNATOV, ALEXANDER - RAS, MOSCOW, RUSSIA
item Sechler, Aaron
item Schuenzel, Erin
item AGARKOVA, IRINA - UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA
item VIDAVER, ANNE - UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA
item OLIVER, BRADLEY - MONTEREY CO. AG. SALINAS
item Schaad, Norman

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/2/2007
Publication Date: 7/12/2007
Citation: Ignatov, A., Sechler, A.J., Schuenzel, E., Agarkova, I.V., Vidaver, A.K., Oliver, B., Schaad, N.W. 2007. Genetic diversity in populations of Xanthomonas campestris pv. camestris in cruciferous weeds in central coastal California. Phytopathology. 97:803-812

Interpretive Summary: Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc), causal agent of black rot of crucifers, infects a large number of cruciferous plants, including weeds. California has large acreages of cruciferous crops and a large population of cruciferous weeds. Although considerable information is available on the genetic diversity of Xcc in crop plants, nothing is known about the diversity in strains infecting weeds. To assess genetic diversity among strains of Xcc in weeds in non-crop and crop production areas, strains were isolated from cruciferous weeds growing in coastal valley (inland) crop production sites and from non-crop production sites along the California Central Coast. Results of fingerprinting 72 strains revealed 7 genetic groups. Groups A and B were limited to coastal sites; groups C, D, and E were from inland crop production sites; and groups F and G were present in both coastal non-production and inland production sites. None of the crop strains tested typed together with the weed strains.

Technical Abstract: Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris infects a large number of cruciferous plants, including weeds. California has one of the largest and most diverse populations of wild cruciferous plants in the world. Although considerable information is available on the genetic diversity of X. campestris pv. campestris in commercial crop plants, nothing is known about the diversity in strains infecting weeds. To assess the genetic diversity among strains of X. campestris pv. campestris in weeds in non-crop production and production areas, strains of the pathogen were isolated from populations of cruciferous weeds growing in coastal valley crop production sites and from remote non-production sites along the California Central Coast. Results of fingerprinting over 72 strains using AFLP along with representative strains by sequence analysis showed the presence of 7 genotypes. Genotypes A and B were limited to coastal sites, genotypes C, D, and E were from inland crop production sites, and genotypes F and G were present in both coastal non-crp production and inland production sites. Crop strains were grouped outside any weed strain group and were separated from the last by significant distance as well as from other pathovars of X. campestris. These results showed that strains of X. campestris pv. campestris present in non-crop production coastal weed populations were generally unique to a site and genetically distinct from strains present in populations of weeds in crop production areas.