EPPO Global Database

Clavibacter insidiosus(CORBIN)

Distribution details in Chile

Situation
Current pest situation evaluated by EPPO on the basis of information dated 1993: Absent, unreliable record
From NPPO: Absent, unreliable record
Comments
From COSAVE (1992): only one published report (see reference). Subsequently cited by Review of Applied Mycology, in CMI (maps) and by EPPO (DS). However, presence is highly doubtful for the following reasons:
1) the bacterium was found in all prospected areas and all lucerne cultivars, and was even widespread in non-cultivated soils (this surprised even the authors);
2) there have not been any further studies to confirm the identification of the pest;
3) diagnostic techniques used at that time are now considered insufficient to identify the bacterium correctly.
There is no other report of this disease from Chile and phytopathologists and lucerne specialists have never come across it. Verticillium albo-atrum is the only pest in Chile to show similar symptoms. This bacterium could not simply disappear from Chile because it is soil-borne and lucerne has continued to be grown in Chile. These are the reasons for its inclusion in Chile's A1 list.
References
* Gottlieb, D.; Romoli, M.; Rogers, M. (1957) Alfalfa wilt in Chile. Plant Disease Reporter 41 (12), 1041-1044.