Application of Specific Primers and Polymerase Chain Reaction for Identification of Ralstonia Solanacearum Biovar2

A rapid and sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method is described for the determination of latent infections of Ralstonia solanacearum, the causal agent of bacterial wilt of solanaceous plants. The PCR tests with specific primers successfully detected R. solanacearum biovar 2 in all naturally and artificially infected poato samples with or without visible symptoms, and gave a characteristic 1019 bp band with division 2 specific DIV2F / DIV2R primers. As expected the PCR test with division 1 specific DIV1F / DIV1R primers did not produce any PCR product with any infected potato and tomato sample. None of the healthy control potato and tomato plants gave visible PCR products with the specific primers.