Dawn Bignell Memorial University
[email protected] Characterization of Streptomyces species causing common scab disease in Newfoundland Agriculture Research Initiative Project #ARI-1314-005 FINAL REPORT Submitted by Dr. Dawn R. D. Bignell March 31, 2014 Page 1 of 34 Dawn Bignell Memorial University
[email protected] Executive Summary Potato common scab is an important disease in Newfoundland and Labrador and is characterized by the presence of unsightly lesions on the potato tuber surface. Such lesions reduce the quality and market value of both fresh market and seed potatoes and lead to significant economic losses to potato growers. Currently, there are no control strategies available to farmers that can consistently and effectively manage scab disease. Common scab is caused by different Streptomyces bacteria that are naturally present in the soil. Most of these organisms are known to produce a plant toxin called thaxtomin A, which contributes to disease development. Among the new scab control strategies that are currently being proposed are those aimed at reducing or eliminating the production of thaxtomin A by these bacteria in soils. However, such strategies require a thorough knowledge of the types of pathogenic Streptomyces bacteria that are prevalent in the soil and whether such pathogens have the ability to produce this toxic metabolite. Currently, no such information exists for the scab-causing pathogens that are present in the soils of Newfoundland. This project entitled “Characterization of Streptomyces species causing common scab disease in Newfoundland” is the first study that provides information on the types of pathogenic Streptomyces species that are present in the province and the virulence factors that are used by these microbes to induce the scab disease symptoms.