First report of Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae in Turkey
During the spring and autumn of 2009 and 2010, unusual symptoms were observed on kiwifruit plants (Actinidia deliciosa cv. ‘Hayward’) in Rize province (Black Sea region), Turkey. Symptoms were characterized by dark brown spots surrounded by yellow halos on leaves and cankers with reddish exudate production on twigs and stems. It is estimated that the disease incidence was 3% over approximately 10 ha. Eight bacterial strains were isolated from leaf spots and tissues under the bark on selective medium (King’s B) and identified as Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (EPPO Alert List) on the basis of biochemical, physiological, and molecular (PCR) tests. Pathogenicity tests were also performed and similar symptoms could be obtained by inoculating a bacterial suspension into 2 year-old plants of A. deliciosa cv. ‘Hayward’. The bacterium could be re-isolated from these artificially inoculated plants. This is the first report of P. syringae pv. actinidiae from Turkey.
The situation of Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae can be described as follows: Present, first detected in 2009/2010 in Rize province (Black Sea region).
Sources
Bastas KK, Karakaya A (2012) First report of bacterial canker of kiwifruit caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae in Turkey. Plant Disease 96(3), p 452.