First report of Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum in Peru
Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum (EPPO A2 list) is first reported from Peru. In March 2024, ginger plants (Zingiber officinale cultivar Criollo) grown in fields in Junín region (provinces of Chanchamayo and Satipo), exhibited severe disease symptoms starting with plant yellowing and rapidly progressing to rhizome necrosis. The pathogen responsible was identified as R. pseudosolanacearum (bacterial wilt) by pathogenicity tests, PCR and sequencing. The authors consider that the pathogen may have been introduced from Asia, the area of origin of this species.
The Junín region provides 90% of Peru’s ginger production. In 2024, an estimated average yield loss of 30% has been attributed to bacterial wilt in the Junín region. It may be recalled that outbreaks of R. pseudosolanacearum in ginger production have occurred in the EPPO region, which were traced-back to ginger root imported from Peru (EPPO RS 2021/140, RS 2023/092).
The situation of Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum in Peru can be described as follows: Present, not widely distributed.
Sources
Soto-Heredia J, Ramos-Tito S, Alves AR, Ferreira LD, Calderon LL, Rossato M (2024) First report of Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum causing bacterial wilt in ginger in Peru. Plant Disease (early view). https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-09-24-1874-PDN