Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) leaf and stem spot caused by Erwinia persicina

Parsley is a common green vegetable produced and consumed in many countries of the world. Showing leaf spots and softening on the stem parsleys were collected to identify the causal pathogen in the central Anatolia region. Morphological, biochemical, and 16S rRNA sequence analysis were used to identify the causal pathogen. Substrate utilization was revealed in detail by using the VITEK-II system. Antibiotic resistance and reaction to copper sulphate pentahydrate were also determined. Strains were observed as pink pigmented colonies on NA. Pathogenicity tests revealed that virulence level of the strains were different. All strains were Gram-negative, fermentative, oxidase negative, catalase-positive, and caused HR on tobacco leaves. Discriminative test results of the strains were, negative on the methyl red test, positive on Voges-Proskauer, and negative for the usage of dulcitol, glycerol, melezitose and D-xylitol. The strains showed different resistance to copper sulphate pentahydrate in different concentrations. All strains were susceptible to kanamycin and streptomycin, resistant to chloramphenicol, erythromycin, nalidixic acid and penicillin. 16Sr RNA sequence of the strains was identical to the reference strains of Erwinia persicina in the GenBank deposited sequences. Species specific primer pairs derived from rec A housekeeping gene was also amplified for the specific discrimination of strains from other pink pigmented Erwinia spp. The causal agent of leaf and stem spot and stem soft rot of leaf parsley was identified as Erwinia persicina. The results of this study revealed that the pathogen Erwinia persicina could be an opportunistic pathogen that infects its host plant in case of a wound for the leaf parsley.