Virulence Function of Pectobacterium atrosepticum Secretion System Mutants on Evaluation of Some<italic> Solanum tuberosum</italic> Resistance Genes

Abstract

Background: <em>P.</em> <em>atrosepticum</em> is a commercially important pathogen. It causes blackleg in the field and soft rot of tubers after the harvest. This effect is due to secretion of depolymerases and other virulence factors by several mechanisms including T3SS Objectives: The effect of bacterial T3SS on <em>Solanum</em> <em>tuberosum</em> (<em>S. tuberosum</em>) varieties and its relationship with <em>S. tuberosum</em> resistance gene expression were studied. Materials and Methods: A <em>P. atrosepticum</em> HrpW gene was cloned, sequenced and constructed a phylogenic tree with some phytopathogen. The virulence properties of <em>P. atrosepticum</em> strains were investigated and then <em>S. tuberosum</em> varieties were tested for their sensitivity against <em>P. atrosepticum</em>. PR-5 and HIN genes copy-number for infiltrated <em>S. tuberosum</em> tubers were assessed. Results: The results show that infiltrated tubers of <em>P. atrosepticum</em> T3SS mutants were significantly more macerated than the wild type ones. Conclusions: PR-5 and HIN expression amounts were depended on bacterial T3SS function.