Dickeya solani is a bacterium that causes blackleg and soft rot in potato crops.

[4] Symptoms of a Dickeya solani infection can include wilts and soft rots.

have virulence factors such as extracellular enzymes, type III secretion systems, and phospholipases.

The usage of cell wall degrading enzymes is sometimes categorized as a “brute force” method.

can attack the host, the type III secretion system can code for hypersensitive response and pathogenicity (hrp) genes.

The pathogen must first be able to adhere to the plant's surface and penetrate it either via a wound or a natural opening such as the stomata.

In late spring to the summer the bacteria can spread from the original seed tuber to the developing roots and stems.

Once the cell wall is degraded a liquification of the stem and the original seed tuber occurs.

During harvest, mechanical injuries can occur on the tuber which can provide more entry spots for Dickeya solani.