Characterization of Plant Pathogenic Ralstonia Solanacearum Causing Bacterial Wilt of Potato

After wheat, rice and maize, the potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is considered one of the world's most significant food crops.Bacterial wilt or brown rot of potato, caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, is one of the most economically important diseases of potato.The purpose of this study was to characterize morphological, pathological and biochemical characterization of Ralstonia solanacearum.Total ten isolates of Ralstonia solanacearum were isolated on TZC agar medium from infected potato plant parts.All isolates of R. solanacearum showed fluidal, irregular and creamy white with pink center colony on TZC medium after 48 h of incubation were selected.The isolates of R. solanacearum showed a positive result for the pathogenicity test and produced wilting symptoms on potato plants (Kufri Pukhraj).The results of biochemical studies showed that all the ten isolates were gram-negative, rod-shaped and positive for KOH test, oxidase test, catalase test, production of hydrogen sulphide, casein hydrolization test and acid production test, but they showed negative reaction for indole test.R. solanacearum was identified as the pathogen causing potato wilt based on an isolation study (colony characteristics on TZC media), oozing test, pathogenicity test and various biochemical tests.