Characterization of Bacteria Isolated from Rotted Onions (Allium cepa)

One hundred thirty nine bacteria were isolated from rotten onions collected from main producing districts, Chang-Nyung, Eui-Ryung, and Ham-Yang in Korea. The (25 strains) of bacterial isolates have carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase) activity and the (74 strains) have polygalacturonase (PGase) activity. Thirty one among randomly selected 45 strains of PGase producing bacteria have pathogenicity to onions. The isolates were classified into Pseudomonas sp. (18 strains), Bacillus sp. (11 strains), Yers-inia sp. (7 strains), and others (9 strains) on the basis of FAMEs patterns. Eighteen strains of Pseudomonas sp. were mainly divided into three cluster in the dendrogram and only the two clusters of them showed pathogenicity to onions. CMCase and PGase activities of Pseudomonas sp. weaker than those of Bacillus sp.. However, the pathogenicity of pseudomonas sp. to soften onions was stronger than that of Bacillus sp. Inoculation of cfu of Pseudomonas sp. gives rise to softening of onions. Pseudomonas sp. was identified as Pseudomonas gladioli by biochemical and physiological characteristics. P. gladioli is the first reported bacterium as a pathogen of onion in Korea. In low temperature, P. gladioli showed better growth and higher PGase activity than those of Bacillus sp. identified as Bacillus subtilis. And pH 9.0 is optimal pH for PGase activity of B. subtilis while that of P. gladioli is pH which is the acidity of onions. Taken together, P. gladioli may be a main pathogene of onion rot during the cold storage condition.