We found a high number of Serratia sp in coconuts sold in Moscow. It looks like they are known in other regions as well :(http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF01567926; http://www.tgw1916.net/articles/Coconut_Serratia.html)
1) Are they common in your region?
2) Are they pathogenic for plants or humans/animals?
Dr Alex, i have isolated Serratia marcescens from compost samples, which was potential phosphate solubilizing bacteria.
Dear Dr Alex
This sort of bacteria is not pathogenic,it is non pathogenic contaminant.I causes pseudohaemoptysis whicn is might seen in sputum pathological speciment.This red pigment cab be very useful in biological pollution tracing.
In Southwest coast of India, crimson red Serratia is often seen on the surface of coconut kernel, it is not considered as pathogen and red part on the surface will be removed using spoon before using kernel in food or in cooking.
@All, thank you a lot for valuable information! At 2011-2014 we isolated regularly Serratia marcescens from diseased sunflower in Caucasus region, and looking for pathogenic strains of the bacteria on other crops.
Serratia spp are gram negative bacteria, classified in the large family of Enterobacteriaceae. One of the characteristic features of the Serratia is the production of cell associated red color pigment called prodigiosin. Bacteria possess huge ability in producing biopigments that are synthesized for producing medicinally important products. Serratia marcescens is widely distributed in nature and has now become a frequent inhabitant of hospital wards. It may colonize or infect patients with compromised local or general defence mechanism. Different species of Serratia have been reported from different sources. Serratia rubidaea has been repeatedly isolated from coconuts. Serratia proteamaculans was isolated from a leaf spot disease of the tropical plant Protea cynaroides. Serratia species were frequently found associated with plants. Serratia strains isolated from plants other than figs and coconuts were distributed among eight Serratia species, although S. liquefaciens and S. proteamaculans were predominant. S. liquefaciens and S. marcescens were found in sugar-beet root-maggot development stages. In India, isolation of Serratia marcescens from soil samples collected from Western Ghat Ecosystem forest, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu state is reported.
Serratia proteamaculans and S. plymuthica (non- pigmented species) are common in rotted potato tubers.
Dr Alex, i have isolated Serratia marcescens from compost samples, which was potential phosphate solubilizing bacteria.
Dear Bee, Serratia is enterobacteriaceae, how it still persist into the thermophilic compost (Temp. upto 60C). However, it is ok as phosphate dissolver.
Serratia was isolated from slug body surface, i mean from the macrofauna that were naturally present in farmwaste compost
It is fairly common in coconut kernels in Southern India. It is glaring that the kernels attain crimson red color. I guess they are not pathogenic...
Dear Alex,
In general the milk and nut tissue are steril, except only a few exceptions, upon secondary infections by insects entering the inner part of the nut. Can you fully exclude that the found Serrratia marcescens are not an artefact, originating from contamination during not fully steril work-up when preparing the material?
Dear Regina,
I am sure that Serratia was present inside the coconut. I cannot say that this bacterium was plant pathogenic, but we have many other plants infected by Serrratia marcescens as phloem-associated pathogen (cucurbits, sunflower, ginger, and some others)
Regards
Alex
Sir, We got Serratia rubidaea from Ginger. Is it pathogenic or not. How we may conduct the study, please guide me. Thanks
Dear P. Vadivukkarasi
I have no idea about possible disease caused by Serratia on ginger, but you can try the same method as for Cucurbit yellow vine disease:
"Bacterial inoculation via an inoculation fork was the only method that yielded disease symptoms, although the bacterium was able to colonize plant tissues endophytically without causing disease when inoculated with a syringe and hypodermic needle". https://getd.libs.uga.edu/pdfs/besler_kevin_r_201412_ms.pdf
The pathogenecity of the microbes can be got tested from government authorised testing laboratories for such purpose .The tests include toxicity as well as pathogenecity etc.
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