Identification and comparative investigation into causal agent of citrus bacterial canker in Ilam province

Some samples of leaves and twinges of ‘Mexican‘lime, with bacterial canker symptoms were collected in spring and summer of 2012, from Ilam province. Some bacterial isolates were isolated from infected tissues using classic methods. Primary identification of bacterial isolates was performed based on phenotypic characterization and spectral absorption properties of yellow pigment. Pathogenicity of isolates was approved on detached leaves and seedlings of Mexican lime and grapefruit in the greenhouse condition. The results of Phenotypic and genotypic identification, using four pair specific primers indicated that all isolates belong to Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri. The first identification results were approved using gyrB sequence analysis in candidate isolates. Comparing genetic fingerprint profiles with 3 type strains and other strains obtained from Kerman, Sistan and Balochestan, Hormozgan and Fars provinces showed that all Iranian isolates are similar in case of genetic fingerprint profile.