EPPO Global Database

EPPO Reporting Service no. 07 - 2012 Num. article: 2012/138

First report of Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens on soybean in Germany


During breeding trials on soybean (Glycine max), the presence of Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens (EPPO A2 List) was detected for the first time in Germany. Field trials with 16 different soybean cultivars were conducted in one site near Dornburg (Thüringen). In July 2011 severe symptoms of bacterial blight resembling those caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. glycinea were observed on several cultivars (cvs ‘Maple Arrow’, ‘Lissabon’, ‘Alma ATA’, ‘Primus’ and ‘Capnor’), but the cultivar Capnor also showed some atypical symptoms. Laboratory studies (isolation, PCR, sequencing, pathogenicity tests) confirmed the presence of P. syringae pv. glycinea on all cultivars listed above and of C. flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens in samples of G. max cv. ‘Capnor’. This is the first time that C. flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens is reported in field-grown soybean plants in Germany. The origin of the bacterium is not known, but it is suspected that it was introduced via infected seeds of cv. ‘Capnor’. All infected soybean plants have been destroyed.
The situation of Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens in Germany can be described as follows: Transient, first found in 2011 in 1 site near Dornburg (Thüringen) in 1 soybean cultivar.

Sources

Sammer UF, Reiher K (2012) Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens on soybean in Germany – a threat for farming. Journal of Phytopathology 160(6), 314-316.
ProMed posting (no. 20120809.1235745) of 2012-08-09. Curtobacterium wilt, soybean – Germany: first report, (Thuringia). http://www.promedmail.org