EPPO Global Database

EPPO Reporting Service no. 06 - 2007 Num. article: 2007/117

Studies on bacterial leaf spot of poinsettia in China


Bacterial leaf spot of poinsettia, caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. poinsettiicola (EPPO Alert List) was first reported in India in the 1950s and was then reported in other parts of the world. In China, a bacterial leaf spot disease was initially observed on poinsettia in the Xiaoshan district of Zhejiang Province, which is one of the major poinsettia-growing regions. On the basis of biochemical and physiological characteristics, the causal agent was ascribed to Xanthomonas campestris pv. poinsetiicola. The Chinese isolates of the bacterium were studied again to determine their position in the new classification of xanthomonads. Results showed that these Chinese isolates belonged to a pathovar of Xanthomonas axonopodis but presented some differences with other known isolates of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. poinsetiicola.

Sources

Li B, Xie GL, Zhang JZ, Janssens D, Swings J (2006) Identification of the bacterial leaf spot pathogen of poinsettia in China. Journal of Phytopathology 154(11-12), 711-715.