Developing Detection Methods for Tomato Diseases: Innovation to Support Food Availability
Muslihah Nur Hidayati (a,b), Suranto (a), Ari Susilowati (a)

(a) Bioscience Program, School of Graduates, Sebelas Maret University, Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia

(b) Applied Research Institute of Agricultural Quarantine, Indonesian Agricultural Quarantine Agency, Ministry of Agriculture Republic Indonesia, Bekasi, West Java, Indonesia

Abstract

Plant pathogens affect food availability and consequently food security through reductions in yield and plant mortality. Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm) is a plant pathogenic bacteria that causes bacterial wilt and canker, which is one of the most important bacterial diseases of tomato. Based on genomic analysis, the largest Cmm region contains pathogenicity related gene, tomA, which encodes an exported enzymes involved in the detoxification of the saponin, a plant defense and antimicrobial compound produced by tomato and other members of the Solanaceae. This study aimed to optimize detection and identification of Cmm by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Specific primers based tomA gene has been designed. Construction and feasibility analysis of primer pair was done using Primer3Plus program. Ten primer candidates were successfully obtained based on the result of the program. Primer parameters analysis selected the best candidates of specific primer. Two specific primer PCR were successfully constructed and used to amplify tomA gene by PCR method. Both primer resulting in a PCR product with a length of 232 bp and can be used for further specific detection of tomato diseases, especially caused by Cmm.

Keywords: tomato, primer, tomA gene, food availability, food security

Topic: Food and Nutrition Security