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Pectobacterium araliae sp. nov., a pathogen causing bacterial soft rot of Japanese angelica tree in Japan

Hiroyuki Sawada1, Nobutaka Someya2, Tomohiro Morohoshi3

  • 1Research Center of Genetic Resources, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), 2-1-2 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8602, Japan.

International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology
|April 16, 2024
PubMed

Insights

A novel bacterial species, Pectobacterium araliae, was identified from Japanese angelica trees suffering from bacterial soft rot. This phytopathogenic bacterium represents a new addition to the Pectobacterium genus, impacting plant health.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Plant Pathology
  • Bacteriology

Background:

  • Phytopathogenic bacteria cause significant damage to agricultural crops and trees worldwide.
  • Bacterial soft rot diseases, particularly in woody plants, pose a threat to plant health and biodiversity.
  • The genus Pectobacterium comprises several plant pathogenic species responsible for causing soft rot diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize and classify novel bacterial strains isolated from Japanese angelica trees exhibiting symptoms of bacterial soft rot.
  • To determine the phylogenetic and taxonomic position of these isolates within the genus Pectobacterium.
  • To propose a new species designation based on comprehensive phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and genotypic analyses.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation and culturing of bacteria from diseased plant tissues.
  • Gram staining, motility tests, and spore formation assays.
  • Genomic DNA G+C content determination and cellular fatty acid analysis.
  • Phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA and gyrB gene sequences.
  • Whole-genome sequencing for phylogenomic analysis.
  • Comparative genomic analyses including average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH).
  • Phenotypic characterization and comparison with related species.

Main Results:

  • Two bacterial strains, MAFF 302110T and MAFF 302107, were isolated from Japanese angelica trees with bacterial soft rot.
  • The isolates were identified as Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, motile rods, non-spore-forming.
  • Phylogenetic analyses consistently placed the strains within the genus Pectobacterium, but distinct from known species.
  • ANI and dDDH values were below established thresholds for species delineation, with Pectobacterium polonicum DPMP315T showing the highest similarity.
  • Distinct phenotypic characteristics, fatty acid profiles, and secretion systems differentiated the isolates from related species.

Conclusions:

  • The combined phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and genotypic data strongly support the classification of MAFF 302110T and MAFF 302107 as a novel species within the genus Pectobacterium.
  • The proposed name for this new species is Pectobacterium araliae sp. nov., with MAFF 302110T designated as the type strain.
  • This finding expands the known diversity of Pectobacterium species and contributes to understanding the pathogens affecting Japanese angelica trees.
Keywords:
Aralia elataErwinia carotovoraJapanese angelica treeJapanese araliaPectobacterium carotovorumbacterial soft rot disease

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