Journal of Applied Genetics (2012) 53, 457-467

Robert Czajkowski and Jan M. van der Wolf (2012)
Quantitative and specific detection of the biocontrol agent, Serratia plymuthica, in plant extracts using a real-time TaqMan® assay
Journal of Applied Genetics 53 (4), 457-467
Abstract: A Serratia plymuthica-specific TaqMan® assay was designed based on the consensus nucleotide sequence from the 3'- end of the luxS gene present in all S. plymuthica strains tested. The specificity of the assay was demonstrated by testing 21 Serratia spp. strains and 30 isolates belonging to various species that can potentially coexist with S. plymuthica in the same environment. Positive reactions in the TaqMan® assay were observed only for S. plymuthica isolates and not for other bacteria. The TaqMan® assay could detect down to 1.95 ng of S. plymuthica DNA, down to 5 bacterial cells per reaction (100 cfu ml⁻¹) in vitro, down to 50 bacterial cells per reaction (1,000 cfu ml⁻¹) in spiked potato root extracts and down to 5 bacterial cells per reaction (100 cfu ml⁻¹) in spiked potato haulm extracts. We used this assay to quantify S. plymuthica A30 cells in potato and tomato haulms and roots grown from S. plymuthica A30-inoculated potato seed tubers and tomato seeds. The results were comparable with the spread-plating of plant extracts on a newly developed S. plymuthica A30 selective medium (CVTR2Arif). The TaqMan® assay can be used to quantify S. plymuthica isolates in different ecosystems and in complex substrates.
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Database assignments for author(s): Robert Czajkowski, Jan M. van der Wolf

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
identification/taxonomy
surveys/distribution/isolation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
Serratia plymuthica (antagonist)