Association of Enterobacter cloacae with Rhizome Rot of Edible Ginger in Hawaii

• DOI: 10.1094/pdis.2004.88.12.1318
• Publication Date: 2007-05-11T10:23:47Z
• Authors: K. A. Nishijima; A. M. Alvarez; P. R. Hepperly; M. H. Shintaku; L. M. Keith; D. M. Sato; B. C. Bushe; J. W. Armstrong; F. T. Zee
• Keywords: Enterobacter cloacae

Edible ginger is a popular spice crop that grown in Hawaii primarily for the fresh market, and as such, rhizome quality of paramount importance. In our studies, Gram-negative, facultative anaerobic, rod-shaped bacterium was consistently isolated from decayed well symptomless rhizomes. The identified Enterobacter cloacae by biochemical assays 16S rDNA sequence analysis. Rot symptoms, which usually occurred central cylinder rhizome, were characterized yellowish-brown to brown discolored tissue firm spongy texture. inoculation experiments, strains E. produced basal stem root rot, with foliar chlorosis necrosis tissue-cultured plantlets, mature slices whole segments. other hosts, caused internal yellowing ripe papaya fruit rot onion bulbs. All symptoms inoculated plants reisolated cloacae. Our studies suggest can exist an endophyte rhizomes, under conditions are favorable bacterial growth, or host susceptibility, including maturity tissues, may occur. Rhizome be impacted presence such high temperature, relative humidity, low oxygen atmosphere affect development decay, should avoided during post-harvest handling storage. association new finding.