Comparison of Different Sets of Primers Used in Detection and Identification of Potato Soft Rot Pectobacteriumcarotovorum subsp. carotovorum (DYE1969)

Two hundred and four rotted potato samples were collected from different Jordanian potato growing areas and commercial stores. The isolated bacteria were subjected to morphological observation, biochemical and physiological identification as well as PCR. Using different sets of primers, and sequence analysis, 131 bacterial isolates were identified as Pectobacterium carotovorum subspecies carotovorum (Pcc). Primers used; universal primer 16S rDNA Fd1/Rd1, species-specific primer ExpccF/ExpccR, recAF/recAR and pathogencity gene pmrAF/pmrAR. The results of our study showed that the four sets of primers varied in their specificity in detection, where recA and pmrA sets of primer were found to be more efficient in detecting Pcc. On the other hand, Expcc sets of primer were not so specific in detecting Pcc isolates where it was able to detect only 51% of the isolates. In conclusion, our results revealed that molecular techniques using the specific sets of primer was more sensitive and specific in detecting Pcc as potato soft rot causal agents.