Characterization of volatile signatures of Pectobacterium and Dickeya spp. as biomarkers for early detection and identification - A major tool in potato blackleg and tuber soft rot management

Potato blackleg and tuber soft rot diseases, caused by the pectinolytic bacteria Pectobacterium and Dickeya spp., result in severe yield losses worldwide. Early detection of pectinolytic bacterial infections is an important tool in disease management for sustainable potato production. The main goal of the current study was to profile the volatile composition of tubers inoculated with pectinolytic bacteria, in order to identify biomarkers for inoculation with different pathogens.