First report of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ on carrots in Germany
In September 2014, symptoms resembling those of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ (the potato haplotypes are listed in EPPO A1 List) were observed in commercial carrot (Daucus carota) fields in Niedersachsen, Germany. These fields were also infested by the carrot psyllid Trioza apicalis, and the infection rate was about 50% symptomatic plants/field. Symptoms included leaf curling, yellow and purple discoloration of leaves, stunted growth of shoots and roots, and proliferation of secondary roots. Symptomatic carrot (D. carota var. ‘Nerac’) and psyllid samples were collected from 3 fields near Hameln. Asymptomatic carrots (D. carota cv. ‘Napoli’) were also collected from an experimental field in Braunschweig and used as negative controls. Laboratory analysis (PCR, sequencing) confirmed the presence of ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ in 12 (out of 26) symptomatic plants and in 10 (out of 42) psyllid samples. This is the first time that ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ is reported from Germany.
The situation of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ in Germany can be described as: Present, first found in 2014 in commercial carrot fields in Niedersachsen.
Sources
Munyaneza JE, Swisher KD, Hommes M, Willhauck A, Buck H, Meadow R (2015) First report of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ associated with psyllid-infested carrots in Germany. Plant Disease 99(9), p 1269.