Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus does not occur in Egypt
The NPPO of Egypt officially informed the EPPO Secretariat that despite the information stated in a recent paper (Seleim et al., 2014 – see EPPO RS 2015/130), Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus (EPPO A2 List) does not occur in Egypt. The NPPO explained that the original publication contained serious scientific flaws which rendered this record doubtful, if not erroneous. For example, the following problems were pointed out: 1) the number of tubers tested during the indicated timeframe was not feasible; 2) sampling procedures and locations were not presented in detail by the authors; 3) the use of a positive control could not be ascertained and the authorities had not been contacted to deliver the necessary permit to import bacterial strains; 4) no reference material has been deposited in an official collection; 5) upon further enquiries, it appeared that the procedures recommended by EC Directive 93/85/EEC had not been fully followed; 6) pathogenicity tests were not carried out in quarantine facilities. The NPPO will ask the authors to reconsider their results, and official surveillance activities on potato bacteria will continue in Egypt with particular vigilance.
The pest status of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus in Egypt is officially declared as: Absent (unconfirmed report only).
Sources
NPPO of Egypt (2015-09).
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