1Tamil Nadu Precision Farming Project (Plant Pathology), R.R.S., Paiyur, Kaveripattinam, Krishnagiri 635 112, India.
2Centre for Plant Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, College of Horticulture, KAU, Vellanikkara, Thrissur, 680 656, India.
*E-mail: <samsdna@yahoo.co.in>
Biochemical characteristics of l5 isolates of Ralstonia solanacearum collected from ginger growing tracts of Palakkad, Emakulam and Wynad districts of Kerala revealed that the isolates were homogenous in their reaction. The bacteria were isolated on triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TZC) medium and they appeared as small creamy white colonies with pink centre. All the isolates showed positive reaction for solubility in KOH, nitrate reduction, production of catalase and oxidase enzymes and fermentation of glucose. All the isolates produced ammonia from arginine and oxidized lactose, maltose, cellobiose, mannitol and sorbitol but failed to oxidize dulcitol. Based on this reaction, they were classified under biovar III A.
Ralstonia solanacearum, Biochemical characteristics, Zingiber officinale
