Lactic Acid Bacteria Cause a Leaf Blight and Bulb Decay of Onion (Allium cepa)

Several members of the lactic acid bacteria group were isolated from diseased onion plants and bulbs. Based on growth characteristics and sequence analysis of 16S rRNA and rpoA genes, the strains were identified as Lactococcus lactis, Lactobacillus plantarum, and three species of Leuconostoc, i.e., citreum, mesenteroides, and pseudomesenteroides. Pathogenic potential to onion leaves and mature onion bulbs was assessed. L. plantarum and all three Leuconostoc species caused symptoms in both leaves and bulbs. L. lactis caused scale discoloration in bulbs but failed to cause lesions on leaves. Leuconostoc citreum caused bulb decay in 7 days at 18°C as well as 37°C. This is the first report of a group of gram-positive bacteria able to cause disease in onion leaves.