Pectobacterium punjabense Causing Blackleg and Soft Rot of Potato: The First Report in the Russian Federation

Phytopathogenic bacteria of the genus are responsible for several diseases that affect potato ( L.) production worldwide, including blackleg and tuber soft rot. These bacteria are highly diverse, with over 17 different species currently identified. However, some of the recently described species, such as , are still poorly understood. In this study, we focused on isolates collected from diseased potato tubers in Russia in 2021. Whole-genome sequencing was used to characterise the genomic diversity of the pathogen and determine the biochemical profiles of the isolated bacteria. The ability of these isolates to cause soft rot symptoms was tested. A comparative assessment of the potential pathogenicity of the isolates was conducted by infecting potato tubers and measuring the accumulation of biomass in a liquid medium during cultivation at different temperatures. A TaqMan qPCR assay was developed for the highly sensitive and specific characterisation of strains, which can be used in diagnostic systems. This is the first report on causing potato disease in the Russian Federation.