Genotyping of Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora strains from Asia based on recA gene restriction fragment length polymorphisms

Genetic diversity of a collection of 92 strains of Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora (Ecc) isolated from various host, plants in Asian countries (Japan, Korea and Thailand) was assessed by means of PCR-RFLP of recombinase A gene (recA). Ten RFLP groups were obtained on the basis of restriction analysis of recA gene fragments with four restriction endonucleases (Hind III, Alu I, Dde I and Tas I). Most of Asian strains (71 out of 92 strains) belonged to RFLP groups 1, 2 and 3. When the RFLP groups were compared with the phenotypic groups and hosts of origin, there were found some relationships. RFLP groups 2 and 3 coincided with phenotypic groups A and B, respectively. RFLP group 4 contained only isolates from mulberry trees, indicating that the mulberry strains are in a distinct group in Ecc. The results of this study will facilitate further understanding of the population structure of Ecc in Asia.