Fig. 1

Picture depicting different steps of the pathogenicity assay of R. solanacearum performed in eggplant seedlings by the leaf-clip inoculation method. a Surface sterilization of eggplant seeds with 70% ethanol followed by washing twice with sterile distilled water. b Germination of the seeds in a wet cotton and tissue paper bed in a growth chamber maintained at 28 °C and 75% relative humidity up to 14–15 days. c Transfer of seedlings to sterile 1.5 mL microfuge tubes containing sterile water. d, e Dipping a pair of scissors in bacterial inoculum and clipping off a portion of both the cotyledon leaves. f Transfer of inoculated seedlings into growth chamber (28 °C, 75% RH and 12 h photoperiod) and observation of disease symptoms. g Infected seedlings after 10 dpi