Association of Acinetobacter baumannii with Soft Rot Disease of Carrot in India

Soft rot disease of carrots is an important limiting factor carrot production. In this study, roots showing typical soft symptoms were identified in the fields, and diseased healthy root samples collected for pathogen identification. The was isolated using enriched bell pepper method. developed a water-soaked lesion around pricking region when it pricked after stabbing whereas, no produced root. From infected roots, circular, whitish, smooth, mucoid, round, convex, medium-sized colonies formed on nutrient agar medium morphologically as Acinetobacter spp. Pure culture four isolates obtained, one (AB1) further subjected to 16S rDNA sequencing. BLAST analysis confirmed identity AB1 baumannii. Pathogenicity test whole-root assay slice proved pathogenic by producing lesion, maceration, rotting symptoms, whereas water inoculated remain healthy. artificially similar those caused Pectobacterium caratovorum Klebsiella variicola carrot. Based colony morphology, biochemical tests, sequence followed pathogenicity assays, evident that A. baumannii causes carrots. This report essential developing specific diagnostics management against newly emerging bacterial