Isolation and characterization of Ralstonia solanacearum from infected tomato plants of Bishnupur district of Manipur

Abstract

The bacterial wilt of tomato, caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is a major disease of the crop in areas under bacterium is well established and soil conditions are favourable for it. The pathogen can be disseminated into a clean field through contaminated water sources, symptomless yet contaminated seedlings, as well as humans or machinery carrying infested soils as it is soil borne disease. The present investigation were done at tomatoes growing areas of Bishnupur District namely Kumbi, Kwakta, Kwaksiphai, Irengbam Awang Leikai, Toubul, Khoijuman, Kabaw-Watching. Symptoms consists of wilting of the youngest leaves at the ends of the branches during the hottest part of the day. Isolation of infected plants were done from 5 disease plants found among the collected plants from different parts of Bishnupur District. Isolations were done on SPA media. They were found positive for gram staining, KOH test. Finally, isolates were identified as bacterial wilt disease causing pathogen i.e., Ralstonia solanacearum.