Causative agent of soft rot and blackleg of potato. Pectobacterium atrosepticum SCRI1043

Pectobacterium atrosepticum strain SCRI1043. This strain (ATCC BAA-672) is a virulent blackleg isolated from the stem of a potato plant. Genome analysis indicates this organism can fix nitrogen as well as catabolize plant-produced opines. The chromosome also encodes an extensive array of plant cell wall-degrading enzymes such as pectinases as well as all 6 of the known secretion systems. This suggests extensive secretion of pathogenicity determinants such as the aforementioned degradative enzymes but also others such as avirulence proteins. Disruption of the type IV secretion system affected virulence as well, suggesting it is does not simply reflect an integrated plasmid in the chromosome.