Detection of Ralstonia solanacearum in natural substrates using phage amplification integrated with real-time PCR assay.

A sensitive, selective, and rapid protocol for detecting Ralstonia solanacearum from soil and plant tissues was developed based on the integration of the rapid self-replicating ability of bacteriophages with quantitative PCR (q-PCR). Six bacteriophages were isolated and selected for their ability to specifically infect and lyse R. solanacearum.