| Summary: | A survey of ware potatoes (a total of 1127 samples) from localities in Serbia during two
consecutive years resulted in detection and identification of R. solanacearum in 17 tuber
samples. The monitoring detected the causal agent of bacterial wilt and brown rot of potato
in three districts of Vojvodina province. In 2011, the infection by R. solanacearum was confirmed
in 7 samples of ware potato tubers (varieties – Saturna, Pirol, Hermes, Panda) in West
Bačka and South Bačka Districts. In 2012, the infection by R. solanacearum was confirmed in
10 potato tuber samples (Lady Claire, Desiree, Panda, Red Fantasy and Vineta varieties) from
two districts: South Bačka and Central Banat. Bacterial strains obtained from positive samples
were identified as R. solanacearum biovar 2 using PCR/RFLP analysis, pathogenicity test
on tomato transplants, and nutritional, enzymatic and biovar determination tests. To our
best knowledge, these are the only findings of R. solanacearum infection in ware potatoes
in Serbia. R. solanacearum was not detected in tomato or any other host plant tested in this
study. Furthermore, the bacterium was not found in any of the water samples tested, including
those originating from areas in which the bacterium was found in ware potato samples.
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