Search

Microbes encounter various environmental factors which frequently cause detrimental effects on their population dynamics. Ralstonia solanacearum is a devastating bacterium causing a deadly and very complex disease of many agronomically important crops. To better control the disease, information about responses of distinct strains of this bacterium to environmental factors is certainly important but still insufficient. In this study, effects of salinity, excess copper, extreme pHs, drought and light on the propagation and survival of a representative of R. solanacearum strains in Taiwan, Pss4, were assessed. Our results showed that salinity negatively affected Pss4 multiplication in rich media at a dose-dependent manner, but resulted in negligent effects on its survival in sand and in water. In the presence of excess copper, similar negative effects on Pss4 culturability in rich media and at a less level on that in sand occurred. Additionally, Pss4 multiplication in rich media was substantially reduced at pH 9.0 and at a less degree at pH 5.0. Moreover, the survival of this bacterium in sand was sensitive to drought, but it sustained under incident light in water. The results were compared with previous studies on distinct R. solanacearum strains prevalent in different geographic regions and discussed in detail. The information gathered from this study would pave to the way for future studies on field samples to advance disease epidemiology and develop feasible strategies for disease control in Taiwan.