Studies on Erwinia amylovora strains from the Euro-Mediterranean region
Using classical assays (serology, biochemistry, DNA hybridization, host range tests), Erwinia amylovora (EPPO A2 quarantine pest) appeared as an homogeneous species. However, by using other techniques such as PFGE (pulsed-field gel electrophoresis) of genomic DNA, strains of E. amylovora from the Euro-Mediterranean countries could be differentiated into 5 groups according to their types of PFGE patterns. Several strains from different European and Mediterranean countries: Albania (1 strain), Austria (2), Bulgaria (2), Croatia (3), Czechia (1), Egypt (2), France (3), Germany (1), Greece (3), Hungary (6), Israel (4), Italy (9), Spain (1), Switzerland (3) were analysed. Strains from eastern Europe were placed into the same group (Pt2) with a few exceptions (1 strain from Bulgaria and 2 from Israel). Strains from Austria and Czechia belonged to the Central European type (Pt1). Strains from Italy could be divided into 3 groups: patterns similar to those observed for strains from northern France (Pt3), Mediterranean region (Pt2) and Central Europe (Pt 1). The authors felt that further work on a greater number of strains is needed to try to understand better the spread of E.amylovora and how it is locally distributed in Europe.
Sources
Zhang, Y.; Merighi, M.; Bazzi, C.; Geider, K. (1998) Genomic analysis by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of Erwinia amylovora strains from the Mediterranean region including Italy.
Journal of Plant Pathology, 80(3), 225-232.