First record of Acidovorax citrulli in Greece
In Greece, the presence of Acidovorax citrulli (EPPO Alert List) was detected in samples of watermelon fruits (Citrullus lanatus) which had been collected from the district of Chrysoupoli (Kavala prefecture) in July 2005, and from the district of Vagia (Boeotia prefecture) in September 2006. The disease incidence was recorded as high in the district of Chrysoupoli and reached 30% in the district of Vagia. Subsequently, in May 2008, a sample of young grafted watermelon plants collected from a nursery in the district of Varda (Elis prefecture) was also found infected by A. citrulli. According to the information which was provided with the samples to the diagnostic laboratory, 50% of the plants were infected in the nursery and were showing severe symptoms of bacterial blotch. This is the first time that natural infections of Acidovorax citrulli are reported from Greece.
The situation of Acidovorax citrulli in Greece can be described as follows: Present, first detected in 2005, natural infections of fruits and young plants have been reported occasionally on the mainland.
Sources
Holeva MC, Karafla CD, Glynos PE, Alivizatos AS (2009) First report of natural infection of watermelon plants and fruits by the phytopathogenic bacterium Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli in Greece. Phytopathologia Mediterranea 48(2), p 316.