Testing the Effect of UV Radiation on the Survival of Burkholderia glumae

Abstract

Burkholderia glumae (B. glumae) is becoming a serious threat in the major rice producing areas of the world. It was reported that Burkholderia spp., including B. glumae, are adapted to a wide range of ecological niches. Different bacterial strains show different levels of UV tolerance which may be due to the presence of different protection mechanisms. Previously we reported that pigment producing strains of B. glumae are more tolerant to UV radiation than non-pigmented strains. Here, we describe the protocol of UV tolerance assay for B. glumae in different exposure times. Using this protocol, we can calculate the survival rate of B. glumae strains, as well as other bacterial species, in exposure to UV radiation.