Pseudomonas syringae pv. solidagae pv. nov., the Causal Agent of Bacterial Leaf Spot of Tall Goldenrod Solidago altissima L.

A new bacterial disease of tall goldenrod (Solidago altissima L., “Seitaka-awadachiso” in Japanese), one of the most serious weeds in non-agricultural land, was discovered in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. Characterized by angular or round, dark brown necrotic spots on leaves, this disease resulted in defoliation and terminal dieback of the plants in severe cases. The disease was named “bacterial leaf spot”. The causal bacterium was identified as Pseudomonas syringae based on its bacteriological properties including those determined by LOPAT tests. The present bacterium was pathogenic to tall goldenrod alone but not to many other tested plants including weeds, flowers, trees and crops. In addition, P. syringae pv. syringae and other pathovars did not show any pathogenicity to tall goldenrod. Because no pathovars of P. syringae pathogenic to tall goldenrod have been reported, the present bacterium was concluded to be a new pathovar of P. syringae. We propose the name P. syringae pv. solidagae pv. nov. , and strain Sei 1 (MAFF 810063) is designated as the pathotype strain and has been deposited in the MAFF collection with two reference strains (MAFF 810064 and MAFF81066). Received 9 May 2001/ Accepted in revised form 18 June 2001     

Pathogenicity assays restrict the species Xanthomonas campestris into three pathovars and reveal nine races within X. campestris pv. campestris

The species Xanthomonas campestris (Vauterin) groups bacteria associated with cruciferous plants. In order to clarify and refine the pathovar and race structures within X . campestris , 47 representative strains of six pathovars were characterized for their pathogenicity on a large host range of Brassicaceae, including all original hosts. Three diseases were observed on tested plants: (i) black rot disease on cruciferous plants; it was proposed that all strains causing black rot on at least one cruciferous plant be grouped in the single pathovar X . c . pv. campestris ; (ii) leaf spot disease caused by X . c . pv. raphani on hosts belonging to the Brassicaceae and Solanaceae; the sequenced strain 756C identified as X . c . pv. armoraciae was included in this pathovar and the existence of another leaf spot disease caused by X . c . pv. armoraciae was not supported; and (iii) bacterial blight of garden stocks caused by X . c . pv. incanae . No plants susceptible to X . c . pv. barbareae were found. Strains that did not induce any symptom on cruciferous plants tested, including their original hosts, were removed from the pathovar scheme and were named X . campestris only. Three new races were described in addition to the six races previously described within X . c . pv. campestris . The sequenced strains ATCC 33913 (CFBP 5241) and Xcc 8004 (CFBP 6650) belonged to race 3 and to race 9 (one of the new races described), respectively.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas syringae</Emphasis> pv. <Emphasis Type="Italic">alliifistulosi</Emphasis> pv. nov., the causal agent of bacterial leaf spot of onions

In 1972, bacterial leaf spot of onion (BLSO) was first recorded in Japan by Goto. The pathogen was considered as a pathovar of Pseudomonas syringae specifically causing disease on onion and Welsh onion, but it has not been taxonomically investigated in detail. In 2012 and 2014, a disease suspected as BLSO re-emerged on onion in Shizuoka and Hyogo Prefectures, Japan, respectively. A pathogenic bacterium isolated from the infected onions was thought to be the BLSO agent after preliminary examinations. Strains isolated from BLSO in 1969, 1986, 1987, 2012 and 2014 were characterized and compared with the causal agent of bacterial blight of leek (P. syringae pv. porri), which causes similar symptoms on Allium plants. The result of rep-PCR distinguished the BLSO agent from P. syringae pv. porri. Multilocus sequence analysis on housekeeping genes and hrp genes encoding the type-III secretion system revealed that the strains of the BLSO agent clustered independently of P. syringae pv. porri. The BLSO agent and P. syringae pv. porri also differed in utilization of erythritol, dl-homoserine, glutaric acid and other bacteriological characteristics and caused different reactions on onion, Welsh onions, chives, shallot, rakkyo, leek, garlic and Chinese chive. Thus, the BLSO agent clearly differs from P. syringae pv. porri and is considered to be a new pathovar of P. syringae. The name P. syringae pv. alliifistulosi is proposed with pathotype strain ICMP3414.     

Use of phages for identifying the citrus canker bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv. citri in Taiwan

Phages CP115 and CP122, which were isolated from canker lesions on grapefruit and Liucheng sweet orange, respectively, showed a high degree of specificity with respect to lysis of test bacterial strains. When used jointly, they lysed 135 (97·8%) out of 138 Xanthomonas campestris pv. citri strains isolated from the canker lesions on leaves, twigs, and fruits of various citrus species, cultivars, and hybrids grown throughout Taiwan, but they did not lyse other X. campestris pathovars and other phytopathogenic bacteria, nor other bacteria isolated from soil, clinical or environmental samples. Of 252 CP115/CP122-sensitive and 78 CP115/CP122-resistant bacterial strains with colony characteristics typical of or similar to those of X. campestris pv. citri , isolated from canker lesions of various citrus plants in diverse growing regions in Taiwan, 250 (99·2%) and 76 (97·4%) strains were pathogenic and non-pathogenic, respectively, when inoculated into Liucheng sweet orange or Mexican lime. Thus, phages CP115 and CP122, when used jointly, appear to be applicable for identifying X. campestris pv. citri in Taiwan.     

Movement of Xanthomonas campestris pv. vitians in the stems of lettuce and seed contamination

Xanthomonas campestris pv. vitians , the causal agent of bacterial leaf spot of lettuce (BLS), can be seedborne, but the mechanism by which the bacteria contaminates and/or infects lettuce seed is not known. In this study, the capacity of X. campestris pv. vitians to enter and translocate within the vascular system of lettuce plants was examined. The stems of 8- to 11-week-old lettuce plants were stab-inoculated, and movement of X. campestris pv. vitians was monitored at various intervals. At 4, 8, 12 and 16 h post-inoculation (hpi), X. campestris pv. vitians was recovered from 2 to 10 cm above (depending on stem length) and 2 cm below the inoculation site. Xanthomonas campestris pv. vitians was also recovered from surface-disinfested stem sections of spray-inoculated plants. Together, these results are consistent with X. campestris pv. vitians invading and moving systemically within the vascular system of lettuce plants. To investigate the mechanism of seed contamination, lettuce plants at the vegetative stage of growth were spray-inoculated with X. campestris pv. vitians and allowed to develop BLS. Seed collected from these plants had a 2% incidence of X. campestris pv. vitians external colonization, but no bacteria were recovered from within the seed.     

Bacterial leaf blight of strawberry (Fragaria (x) ananassa) caused by a pathovar of Xanthomonas arboricola, not similar to Xanthomonas fragariae Kennedy & King. Description of the causal organism as Xanthomonas arboricola pv. fragariae (pv. nov., comb. nov.)

A new bacterial disease of strawberry is described. This disease, called bacterial leaf blight of strawberry, is characterized by dry, brown necrotic leaf spots and large brown V-shaped lesions along the leaf margin, midrib and major veins. Symptoms are different from angular leaf spot of strawberry caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas fragariae . Strains of the bacterial leaf blight pathogen were characterized in a polyphasic approach by biochemical tests, fatty acid analysis, protein electrophoresis, serology, PCR, pigment analysis, ice-nucleation activity, AFLP analysis, DNA:DNA hybridization, pathogenicity and host range tests, and compared with a number of reference strains of X. fragariae and other Xanthomonas species. Bacterial leaf blight strains formed a homogeneous group in all tests, completely different from X. fragariae . They were the only strains causing leaf blight of strawberry upon artificial inoculation into strawberry. Fatty acid and protein electrophoretic analysis showed that the strains belong to the phenon X. campestris ( sensu latu , including pathovars now classified as belonging to X. arboricola ). AFLP analysis and DNA:DNA hybridization further clarified their taxonomic position as belonging to X. arboricola. The name X. arboricola pv. fragariae is proposed for the bacterium causing leaf blight of strawberry with strain PD2780 (LMG 19145) as pathovar type strain. Criteria for routine identification are given and the taxonomic status is discussed.     

PCR-mediated Detection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xanthomonas oryzae </Emphasis>pv. <Emphasis Type="Italic">oryzae </Emphasis>by Amplification of the 16S–23S rDNA Spacer Region Sequence

A detection method specific for Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, the pathogen responsible for bacterial blight of rice, was based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and designed by amplifying the 16S–23S rDNA spacer region from this bacterium. The nucleotide sequence of the spacer region between the 16S and 23S rDNA, consisting of approximately 580-bp, from X. oryzae pv. oryzae, X. campestris pv. alfalfae, X. campestris pv. campestris, X. campestris pv. cannabis, X. campestris pv. citri, X. campestris pv. cucurbitae, X. campestris pv. pisi, X. campestris pv. pruni and X. campestris pv. vitians, was determined. The determined sequences had more than 95% identity. Therefore, a pair of primers, XOR-F (5′-GCATGACGTCATCGTCCTGT-3′) and XOR-R2 (5′-CTCGGAGCTATATGCCGTGC-3′) was designed and found to specifically amplify a 470-bp fragment from all strains of X. oryzae pv. oryzae isolated from diverse regions in Japan. No PCR product was amplified from X. campestris pathovars alfalfae, campestris, cannabis, carotae, cucurbitae, dieffenbachiae, glycines, pisi, pruni, vitians or zantedeschiae, except for pathovars citri, incanae and zinniae. The method could also detect the pathogen in infected rice leaves within 3 hr, at a detection limit of 4×10¹ cfu/ml. Received 17 December 1999/ Accepted in revised form 10 April 2000     

Consequences of the taxonomic revision of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. dieffenbachiae and of the analysis of its associated pathogenicity for the recommendation of regulation (EPPO A2 List)

Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. dieffenbachiae, the causal agent of bacterial blight of Araceae (aroids), is a regulated pest in several countries and is included in the EPPO A2 List. Reference strains of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. dieffenbachiae have recently been reclassified into the species Xanthomonas phaseoli, Xanthomonas citri and Xanthomonas euvesicatoria on the basis of different features, including multilocus sequence analysis, average nucleotide identity and homology in DNA–DNA hybridization analyses. Based on pathogenicity tests, Constantin et al. (2017) proposed naming the pathogens on aroids as X. phaseoli pv. dieffenbachiae, X. phaseoli pv. syngonii and X. citri pv. aracearum. Recommendations are made on how to deal with these changes for the group of pathogenic bacteria for Araceae. The name Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. dieffenbachiae on the EPPO List should be adjusted to the names proposed in the taxonomic study by Constantin et al. (2016). The current EPPO Diagnostic Standard is directed at strains pathogenic on Anthurium. They mainly belong to X. phaseoli pv. dieffenbachiae, but some also to X. citri pv. aracearum that are not detected by the EPPO Diagnostic Standard. Xanthomonas phaseoli pv. syngonii strains are also aggressive, but with a host range restricted to Syngonium. The pathogenicity specific to aroids of the bacterial isolates reclassified as Xanthomonas euvesicatoria was not confirmed and no pathovar epithet has been retained for these strains.     

Growth of Glucose-uptake-deficient Mutant of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae in Rice Leaves

We isolated Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae mutants deficient in the phosphoenolpyruvate : carbohydrate phos-photransferase system, a major glucose transport system in bacteria, using the glucose analogue 3-deoxy-3-fluoro-d-glucose (3FG). Glucose uptake by the mutants was decreased to 15–35% of the parental strain, and growth greatly decreased in synthetic media containing glucose as a sole sugar source. Growth of the mutants in rice leaves was, however, similar to the wild type. These findings suggest that glucose is not necessarily a major carbohydrate source for X. o. pv. oryzae in rice leaves. Received 11 August 2000/ Accepted in revised form 15 December 2000     

Pathogenicity and virulence gene content of Xanthomonas strains infecting Araceae,formerly known as Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. dieffenbachiae

Bacterial leaf blight of aroids is caused by a heterogeneous group of xanthomonads listed as Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. dieffenbachiae (Xad) on the EPPO A2 quarantine list. Recently, Xad strains were shown not to belong to X. axonopodis but to the species X. citri, X. phaseoli and X. euvesicatoria. Here, to verify the pathovar designation, 11 representative strains were tested for pathogenicity on six aroid genera. They had overlapping host ranges and only the strain isolated from Syngonium showed host specificity. The X. citri strains, isolated from various hosts, showed dissimilarity in virulence to the tested aroid genera. The X. phaseoli strains, isolated from Anthurium and Syngonium, were generally more virulent and, additionally, induced systemic infections. The X. euvesicatoria strains, isolated from Philodendron, were scored as not pathogenic on the tested aroids. Four representative strains were genome sequenced and showed a variable virulence‐associated gene content. Pathogenicity to aroids was correlated with the presence of three specific T3 effector genes and with a T6SS gene sequence. Together, the phylogenetic and pathogenic differentiation among Xad strains justifies the installation of three pathovar epithets for the pathogens on aroids: X. phaseoli pv. dieffenbachiae comb. nov. for the strains isolated from Anthurium; X. phaseoli pv. syngonii comb. nov. for the strain isolated from Syngonium; and X. citri pv. aracearum comb. nov. for the strains isolated from Aglaonema, Xanthosoma and Dieffenbachia. It is proposed that phytosanitary regulations for xanthomonads on aroids are restricted to these three pathovars.     

Xanthomonas campestris pv. populi,the causal agent of bark necrosis in poplar

A bacterium was isolated from superficial bark necroses on young poplars and its pathogenicity demonstrated by inoculation experiments. The organism was identified asXanthomonas campestris. Cross-inoculations showed that a previously undescribed pathovar was involved. It is suggested to designate this organismX. campestris pv.populi.Samenvatting Uit een oppervlakkige bastnecrose bij jonge populieren werd massaal een bepaalde bacterie geïsoleerd. Met deze bacterie werden gezonde populieren in het veld geïnoculeerd via verwonding van de bast. Als gevolg van de inoculaties ontwikkelden zich bij ongeveer 40% van de geïnoculeerde bomen hetzelfde type bastnecrosen, terwijl bij de controleplanten geen enkele reactie optrad. Uit de kunstmatig verkregen necrosen werd dezelfde bacterie geïsoleerd.Identificatie met biochemische en serologische methoden toonde aan dat de bacterieXanthomonas campestris was.Vervolgens werden in de kas kruisinoculaties uitgevoerd met verschillende xanthomonaden op populier, wilg, kool en geranium. DeX. campestris isolaten uit populier tastten behalve populier ook wilg aan. De andere gebruikte stammen waren waardplant-specifiek, al bleven sommigen ervan minstens acht maanden in leven in een niet-waardplant, evenwel zonder symptomen te veroorzaken. Geconcludeerd wordt, dat de bastnecrosen zijn veroorzaakt door een nog niet beschreven pathovar vanX. campestris. Voorgesteld wordt om deze bacterieXanthomonas campestris pv.populi te noemen.     

Molecular characterization of the incitant of cowpea bacterial blight and pustule, Xanthomonas campestris pv. vignicola

Strains of Xanthomonas campestris pv. vignicola (Xcv), isolated from cowpea leaves with blight or minute pustules and collected from various geographic areas, were selected on the basis of pathological and physiological features. All strains were analyzed for genotypic markers by two methods: ribotyping with EcoRI endonuclease, and RFLP analysis with a plasmid probe (pthB) containing a gene required for pathogenicity from Xanthomonas campestris pv. manihotis. Ribotyping revealed a unique pattern for all the strains that corresponded to the previously described ribotype rRNA7. Based on polymorphism detected by pthB among Xcv strains, nine haplotypes were defined. The observed genetic variation was independent of the geographic origin of the strains and of pathogenic variation. Some haplotypes were widely distributed, whereas others were localized. In some cases, we could differentiate strains isolated from blight symptoms and pustules according to haplotypic composition. However, in most cases, no significant differences were observed. Our results and the previous pathogenic and biochemical characterizations suggest that the strains isolated from leaves with blight symptoms or minute pustules belong to the same pathovar. We provide information on pathogen diversity that can be used to identify and characterize resistant germplasm.     

Studies of infection withxanthomonas campestris pv.vesicatoria,causal agent of bacterial scab of pepper in Israel

Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria, the causal agent of bacterial scab of pepper, was isolated in several regions in Israel. When artificial inoculation was practiced, pathogen growth was enhanced by high temperatures (30-36°C), and an inoculum concentration of 10^p6 colony-forming units (CFU) per ml was optimal for symptoms to develop on plants. Pre-inoculation treatments such as wounding the leaves by rubbing them with carborundum powder or spraying them with diluted wax solvents, markedly increased disease severity, but were not essential. Pre-inoculation conditioning at two different relative humidity levels (R.H. = 100% or R.H. < 40%) did not affect disease severity. Young leaves were more severely affected following infection than older leaves. Disease severity was similar with several isolates ofX. campestris pv. vesicatoria.     

A new pathovar of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas syringae</Emphasis>, pathovar <Emphasis Type="Italic">allii,</Emphasis> isolated from onion plants exhibiting symptoms of blight

Bacterial pathogens of onion (Allium cepa) plants and their undetected presence in seed can cause substantial losses to onion producers. In this study, 23 Pseudomonas syringae strains were isolated from five onion plants and 18 onion seeds. The symptoms on leaves and seed stalks were irregular lesions with necrotic centres and water soaked margins. The aim of the study was to characterize these P. syringae strains using Biolog GN III carbon source utilization, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) based on partial sequences of four housekeeping genes (cts, gapA, gyrB and rpoD), and to determine whether or not the strains were pathogenic on onion (cv. Granex 33), chive (Allium schoenoprasum cv. Grasiue), leek (Allium porrum cv. Giant Italian) and spring onion (Allium fistulosum cv. Salotte) plants. Both Biolog analysis and MLST analysis separated onion strains into two clusters, one supporting the existence of a new pathovar of P. syringae, and the other corresponding to P. syringae pv. porri. Pseudomonas syringae strains belonging to the new pathovar we pathogenic only on onion plants of the Allium spp. tested. The results of this study revealed that bacterial blight of onion in South Africa is caused by two pathovars of P. syringae sensu lato, namely, the newly described pathovar, allii, and P. syringae pv. porri. The symptoms caused by these two pathovars in the field were indistinguishable.     

Genetic Diversity and Pathogenic Variation of Common Blight Bacteria (Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli and X. campestris pv. phaseoli var. fuscans) Suggests Pathogen Coevolution with the Common Bean

ABSTRACT Common bacterial blight (CBB), caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli and X. campestris pv. phaseoli var. fuscans, is one of the most important diseases of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) in East Africa and other bean-growing regions. Xanthomonad-like bacteria associated with CBB in Malawi and Tanzania, East Africa, and in Wisconsin, U.S., were characterized based on brown pigment production, pathogenicity on common bean, detection with an X. campestris pv. phaseoli- or X. campestris pv. phaseoli var. fuscans-specific PCR primer pair, and repetitive element polymerase chain reaction (rep-PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses. The common bean gene pool (Andean or Middle American) from which each strain was isolated also was determined. In Malawi, X. campestris pv. phaseoli and X. campestris pv. phaseoli var. fuscans were isolated predominantly from Andean or Middle American beans, respectively. In Tanzania, X. campestris pv. phaseoli var. fuscans was most commonly isolated, irrespective of gene pool; whereas, in Wisconsin, only X. campestris pv. phaseoli was isolated from Andean red kidney beans. Three rep-PCR fingerprints were obtained for X. campestris pv. phaseoli strains; two were unique to East African strains, whereas the other was associated with strains collected from all other (mostly New World) locations. RFLP analyses with repetitive DNA probes revealed the same genetic diversity among X. campestris pv. phaseoli strains as did rep-PCR. These probes hybridized with only one or two fragments in the East African strains, but with multiple fragments in the other X. campestris pv. phaseoli strains. East African X. campestris pv. phaseoli strains were highly pathogenic on Andean beans, but were significantly less pathogenic on Middle American beans. In contrast, X. campestris pv. phaseoli strains from New World locations were highly pathogenic on beans of both gene pools. Together, these results indicate the existence of genetically and geographically distinct X. campestris pv. phaseoli genotypes. The rep-PCR fingerprints of X. campestris pv. phaseoli var. fuscans strains from East African and New World locations were indistinguishable, and were readily distinguished from those of X. campestris pv. phaseoli strains. Genetic diversity among X. campestris pv. phaseoli var. fuscans strains was revealed by RFLP analyses. East African and New World X. campestris pv. phaseoli var. fuscans strains were highly pathogenic on Andean and Middle American beans. Breeding for CBB resistance in East African beans should utilize X. campestris pv. phaseoli var. fuscans and New World X. campestris pv. phaseoli strains in order to identify germ plasm with the highest levels of resistance.     

Genetic Diversity of Xanthomonas campestris pv. vitians, the Causal Agent of Bacterial Leafspot of Lettuce

ABSTRACT Bacterial leafspot of lettuce (BLS), caused by Xanthomonas campes-tris pv. vitians, has become more prevalent in many lettuce-growing areas of the world over the past decade. To gain insight into the nature of these outbreaks, the genetic variation in X. campestris pv. vitians strains from different geographical locations was examined. All strains were first tested for pathogenicity on lettuce plants, and then genetic diversity was assessed using (i) gas-chromatographic analysis of bacterial fatty acids, (ii) polymerase chain reaction analysis of repetitive DNA sequences (rep-PCR), (iii) DNA sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region 1 (ITS1) of the ribosomal RNA, (iv) restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of total genomic DNA with a repetitive DNA probe, and (v) detection and partial characterization of plasmid DNA. Fatty acid analysis identified all pathogenic strains as X. campestris, but did not consistently identify all the strains as X. campestris pv. vitians. The rep-PCR fingerprints and ITS1 sequences of all pathogenic X. campestris pv. vitians strains examined were identical, and distinct from those of the other X. campestris pathovars. Thus, these characteristics did not reveal genetic diversity among X. campestris pv. vitians strains, but did allow for differentiation of X. campestris pathovars. Genetic diversity among X. campestris pv. vitians strains was revealed by RFLP analysis with a repetitive DNA probe and by characterization of plasmid DNA. This diversity was greatest among strains from different geographical regions, although diversity among strains from the same location also was detected. The results of this study suggest that these X. campestris pv. vitians strains are not clonal, but comprise a relatively homogeneous group.     

Development of a semiselective medium for isolating Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum from insect vectors, infected plant material and soil

A semiselective medium was developed for isolating Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum ( Xcm ) from infected banana plants, soil and insect vectors. The new medium was named cellobiose-cephalexin agar (CCA) and it contained (L⁻¹): 1 g yeast extract, 1 g glucose, 1 g peptone, 1 g NH₄Cl, 1 g MgSO₄·7H₂O, 3 g K₂HPO₄, 1 g beef extract, 10 g cellobiose, 14 g agar, 40 mg cephalexin, 10 mg 5-fluorouracil and 120 mg cycloheximide. The medium was evaluated for selectivity using 21 bacterial isolates and for plating efficiency using Xcm . The bacterial isolates included a soilborne Xanthomonas species and three pathogenic Xanthomonas strains that infect cassava, cabbage and beans. Although the plating efficiency of Xcm on CCA was lower (59%) than on non-selective yeast extract peptone glucose agar (YPGA), its selectivity was significantly higher, averaging 60 and 82%, when isolating from banana fruits and soil, respectively. CCA was also superior when isolating Xcm from insect vectors, with selectivity of 48–75%, compared with 8–17% on YPGA. Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli did not grow on CCA, while X. campestris pv. campestris and X. axonopodis pv. manihotis grew, but their colonies were smaller than those of Xcm . Twenty-nine out of 33 suspected Xcm strains isolated from plants, soil and insects using CCA were pathogenic when inoculated onto banana plants, indicating that CCA can be a reliable tool in isolating Xcm populations. The medium should prove useful in studies on ecology, epidemiology and management of the banana bacterial wilt pathogen that is currently ravaging bananas in East and Central Africa.     

Assessment of genetic diversity of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris isolates from Israel by various DNA fingerprinting techniques

Three molecular typing methods were used to investigate genetic diversity among Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris isolates obtained in Israel and others previously obtained from different geographical locations (collection isolates). Using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and repetitive sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR), 22 different isolates were divided into 11, 12 and 13 differentiated genotypes, respectively. All collection isolates yielded different genotypes and, among the isolates from Israel, several new genotypes were found. These findings not only support the observed heterogeneity within X. campestris pv. campestris , but also suggest that variability at the genomic level in this pathovar is higher than previously estimated. Moreover, while previous studies suggested that PCR patterns obtained with integron-specific primers are conserved in most X. campestris pathovars, PCR patterns of this element yielded four different types among the X. campestris pv. campestris isolates tested, thus supporting the relatively high diversity in this pathovar. Although differences in pathogenicity were observed among isolates, assays using cauliflower and radish did not indicate a correlation between pathogenicity and genotype.     

Identification of Isolates that Cause a Leaf Spot Disease of Brassicas as Xanthomonas campestris pv. raphani and Pathogenic and Genetic Comparison with Related Pathovars

ABSTRACT Twenty-five Xanthomonas isolates, including some isolates received as either X. campestris pv. armoraciae or pv. raphani, caused discrete leaf spot symptoms when spray-inoculated onto at least one Brassica oleracea cultivar. Twelve of these isolates and four other Xanthomonas isolates were spray- and pin-inoculated onto 21 different plant species/cultivars including horseradish (Armoracia rusticana), radish (Raphanus sativus), and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). The remaining 13 leaf spot isolates were spray-inoculated onto a subset of 10 plant species/cultivars. The leaf spot isolates were very aggressive on several Brassica spp., radish, and tomato causing leaf spots and dark sunken lesions on the middle vein, petiole, and stem. Based on the differential reactions of several Brassica spp. and radish cultivars, the leaf spot isolates were divided into three races, with races 1 and 3 predominating. A differential series was established to determine the race-type of isolates and a gene-for-gene model based on the interaction of two avirulence genes in the pathogen races and two matching resistance genes in the differential hosts is proposed. Repetitive-DNA polymerase chain reaction-based fingerprinting was used to assess the genetic diversity of the leaf spot isolates and isolates of closely related Xanthomonas pathovars. Although there was variability within each race, the leaf spot isolates were clustered separately from the X. campestris pv. campestris isolates. We propose that X. campestris isolates that cause a nonvascular leaf spot disease on Brassica spp. should be identified as pv. raphani and not pv. armoraciae. Race-type strains and a neopathotype strain for X. campestris pv. raphani are proposed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas syringae</Emphasis> pv. <Emphasis Type="Italic">cerasicola</Emphasis>, pv. nov., the Causal Agent of Bacterial Gall of Cherry Tree

Bacterial gall on trunks and twigs of cherry trees (Prunus × yedoens, Someiyoshino) was found in Miyazaki and Saga prefectures, Japan. The surface of young galls are relatively smooth and light brown, but they become rough and dark brown. Characteristics of the bacterium isolated from galls on trunks or twigs are similar to those of Pseudomonas syringae pathovars, i.e., pv. actinidiae, pv. daphniphylli, pv. dendropanacis, pv. Morsprunorum, pv. myricae, pv. rhaphiolepidis, pv. syringae and pv. tremae. This bacterium produced galls on cherry and apricot, but not on 66 other species of plants belonging to 39 families. From these results, this bacterium was classified as a new pathovar of Pseudomonas syringae, and the name Pseudomonas syringae pv. cerasicola, pv. nov., is proposed. Strain M9501(ICMP 13926) was designated as the pathotype strain. Received 10 September 1999/ Accepted in revised form 24 December 1999