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bioRxiv · 10.64898/2026.01.26.701841

First Report of Soft Rot Caused by Pectobacterium brasiliense on Summer Squash in Mississippi, USA

Brooks, L.·Bista, P.·Clark, E.·Mrema, F.·Bhatta, B. P.
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Abstract

Summer squash (Cucurbita pepo) is a popular vegetable in Mississippi. These are harvested during the tender and immature stages. This vegetable is known to be a good source of vitamins A and C, as well as potassium, and iron. Small farms typically sell summer squash directly to consumers through local farmers markets. In this study, we isolated and identified a soft rot causing bacteria, Pectobacterium brasiliense strain 25ASUB12 (GenBank: PX884501), from symptomatic fruit of field-grown summer squash in Mississippi. We deployed both phenotypic and molecular techniques to identify this important pathogen which has a wide host range, including cucumbers, potatoes, and tomatoes.

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Brooks, L., Bista, P., Clark, E., Mrema, F., Bhatta, B. P.. 2026-01-28. First Report of Soft Rot Caused by Pectobacterium brasiliense on Summer Squash in Mississippi, USA. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.01.26.701841

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