First report of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ in Honduras
In Honduras, heavy infestations of Bactericera cockerelli were observed from 2006 to 2009 in commercial potato (Solanum tuberosum) fields in Azacualpa (Santa Bárbara Department). Affected potato plants showed interveinal chlorosis, vein-greening, downward leaf curling, stunting, above ground tuber formation, and brownish flecks in some tubers. Disease incidence ranged between 50 to 95%. As these symptoms resembled those of zebra chip disease, leaf samples and psyllids were collected from 7 fields in 2 potato-growing regions of Honduras, and tested for the possible presence of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ (EPPO Alert List). The later was detected in 12 (out of 17) potato samples and in 7 (out of 10) psyllid specimens. This is the first time that ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ is detected in Honduras. These results suggest that ‘zebra chip’ or a similar potato disease occurs in Honduras which may present a serious threat to potato production in Honduras.
Sources
Rehman M, Melgar JC, Rivera JM, Idris AM, Brown JK (2010) First report of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter psyllaurous or ‘Ca. Liberibacter solanacearum’ associated with severe foliar chlorosis, curling, and necrosis and tuber discoloration of potato plants in Honduras. Plant Disease 94(3), p 376.