A DNA Probe Specific for Serologically Diverse Strains ofErwinia carotovora

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Abstract
A DNA probe was developed which was specific for Erwinia carotovora and hybridized with all tested strains in the subspecies atroseptica, carotovora, and betavasculorum, regardless of serogroup specificity. The probe, isolated from a genomic library of Erwinia was selected for its ability to hybridize to genomic DNA of Erwinia, but not to genomic DNA from the taxonomically related Escherichia coli. On nitrocellulose filters, a single colony of E. carotovora could be detected against a background of about 1,000 colonies of soil bacteria. As few as 200 colony-forming units (cfu) of E. carotovora subsp. atroseptica could be detected in a suspension containing 2 .times. 103 cfu of soil bacteria per milliliter.