An Opportunistic Pantoea sp. Isolated from a Cotton Fleahopper That Is Capable of Causing Cotton (<i>Gossypium hirsutum</i> L.) Bud Rot

• DOI: 10.4236/as.2017.81006
• Publication Date: 2017-01-19T01:53:04Z
• Authors: Enrique G. Medrano; Alois A. Bell
• Keywords: Pantoea

Pantoea ananatis (Serrano) representatives are known to have a broad host range including both humans and plants. The cotton fleahopper (Pseudatomoscelis seriatus, Reuter) is significant pest that causes bud damage may result in yield losses. In this study, bacterial strain previously isolated from was tested for infectivity using simulated insect feeding. addition, fleahoppers collected the field were raised on green beans laboratory test insects’ capacity vector pathogens. Adult insects then caged with greenhouse grown buds. Buds remained or abscised plants following feeding by consistently showed necrosis of ovary wall. A collection isolates diseased buds analyzed carbon utilization enzyme production tests, fatty acid methyl ester profile analysis, cloning sequencing 16S RNA genes. Results majority best classified as P. ananatis. Upon (i.e., penetrative inoculation), isolate rotted These results indicated vectors opportunistic strains causing loss fruiting structures.