Streptomyces scabies

Streptomyces scabies is a species of bacteria belonging to the genus Streptomyces. It is a Gram-positive, filamentous bacterium known for its role in causing potato scab, a common disease affecting potato crops worldwide.

Taxonomy

The genus Streptomyces is a member of the order Actinomycetales, which is characterized by a complex secondary metabolism and the production of a wide variety of bioactive compounds. Streptomyces scabies was first described by Eriksson in 1890, and it is the type species of the genus Streptomyces.

Morphology

Like other members of the genus Streptomyces, S. scabies forms a complex multicellular system of branching filaments, or hyphae, which can differentiate into a variety of cell types. The bacterium produces spores on aerial hyphae, which are then dispersed by wind or water.

Pathogenicity

Streptomyces scabies is the primary causative agent of potato scab, a disease that causes corky, scaly lesions on the surface of potatoes. The bacterium produces a toxin called thaxtomin, which is responsible for the characteristic symptoms of the disease.

Management

Control of potato scab caused by S. scabies involves a combination of cultural practices, such as crop rotation and the use of resistant potato varieties, and chemical treatments. However, the effectiveness of these methods can be limited by the persistence of the bacterium in soil and its ability to infect a wide range of plant species.

See also

• Streptomyces coelicolor
• Streptomyces griseus
• Potato diseases

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