Development of an Efficient Bioassay Method for Testing Resistance to Bacterial Soft Rot of Radish

Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum (Pcc) causes bacterial soft rot on a wide range of crops worldwide, especially in countries with warm and humid climates. This study was conducted to establish an efficient screening method for resistant cultivars of radish (Raphanus sativus) to bacterial soft rot. Resistance degrees of 60 commercial radish cultivars to the Pcc KACC 10421 isolate were investigated. For further study, six radish cultivars (Awooriwoldong, YR Championyeolmu, Jeonmuhumu, Bitgoeunyeolmu, Sunbongaltari, Housecheongok) showing different level of resistance to the bacterium were selected. The development of bacterial soft rot on the cultivars was tested according to several conditions such as incubation temperature, seedling stage of radish, inoculum concentration to develop the disease. On the basis of the results, we suggest that an efficient screening method for resistant radish to Pcc is to inoculate twenty-day-old seedlings with a bacterial suspension of Pcc at a concentration of 8×10⁵ cfu/ml and then to cultivate the plants in a growth room at 25°C and 80% RH with 12-hour light per day