First report of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus in Egypt
In 2014, potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum cvs. ‘Diamant’ and ‘Spunta’) showing typical symptoms of ring rot were observed in the governorates of Assiut, Gharbia, Menoufia, Minia, and Sohag, in Egypt. Symptoms were observed in 10 out of 10 000 samples examined at the time of planting. Splitting infected tubers toward the stem end revealed a yellow to brown discolouration of the vascular tissue. The discoloured area had a cheesy appearance and exuded a milky ooze when squeezed. Samples were tested for the presence of ring rot disease according to the EC Directive 93/85/EEC. Based on biochemical, physiological, molecular (PCR assay) and pathogenicity tests, the presence of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus (EPPO A2 List) was confirmed in diseased tubers. This is the first time that C. michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus is reported in Egypt, and this is also the first record of this bacterium in Africa.
The situation of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus in Egypt can be described as follows: Present, first found in 2014 in several governorates (Assiut, Gharbia, Menoufia, Minia, and Sohag).
Sources
Seleim M, Abo-Elyousr K, Mohamed A, Saead F (2014) First report of potato bacterial ring rot caused by Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus in Africa. New Disease Reports 30, 15. [http://dx.doi.org/10.5197/j.2044-0588.2014.030.015