EPPO Global Database

EPPO Reporting Service no. 07 - 2003 Num. article: 2003/110

Genetic studies on Xanthomonas arboricola pv. fragariae


Genetic relationships were studied among 26 strains of Xanthomonas arboricola pv. fragariae (EPPO Alert List) and with other pathovars of Xanthomonas arboricola (20 strains of X. arboricola pv. corylina, 22 strains of X. arboricola pv. juglandis, 16 strains of X. arboricola pv. pruni). Results showed that the 4 pathovars had similar but clearly distinct genomic patterns and could be clustered in 4 different groups. X. arboricola pv. fragariae was most closely related to X. arboricola pv. corylina and X. arboricola pv. juglandis. Genetic diversity was also observed among the strains of X. arboricola pv. fragariae collected in Italy. It is noted that symptoms of leaf blight caused by X. arboricola pv. fragariae mainly occur in field grown-strawberries during autumn when air humidity is high. It is pointed out that X. arboricola pv. fragariae and X. fragariae (EPPO A2 list) can be present simultaneously, and that non-pathogenic xanthomonads are also frequently isolated from strawberry leaves. It is felt that an update on detection techniques for pathogenic xanthomonads in strawberry propagation material is needed.


Sources

Scortichini, M.; Rossi, M.P. (2003) Genetic diversity of Xanthomonas arboricola pv. fragariae strains and comparison with some other X. arboricola pathovars using repetitive PCR genomic fingerprinting.
Journal of Phytopathology, 151(3), 113-119.