A genus of rod-shaped bacteria in the Enterobacteriaceae family — Gram-negative and facultatively anaerobic — occurring on plants. Species such as Erwinia amylovora and E. carotovora cause plant diseases and soft rots, including storage rots of vegetables like potatoes and carrots, a significant cause of post-harvest food loss. Erwinia carotovora (now Pectobacterium carotovorum) secretes pectolytic enzymes that macerate plant tissue into the slimy soft rot familiar in stored potatoes and carrots. Control depends on dry, cool storage, wound avoidance at harvest and sanitation, since bactericides are largely ineffective once infection is established.