A new bacterial disease of jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) caused by Burkholderia andropogonis

A leaf spot of jojoba caused by Burkholderia andropogonis is described for the first time. Symptoms ranged from necrotic flecking with comparatively large watersoaked halos to larger 'eyespot' lesions c. 3 mm in diameter with watersoaked halos 1–1·5 mm wide. The necrosis was light tan in colour. Isolates from jojoba displayed variable pathogenicity to other known hosts of B. andropogonis ( Dianthus , Cicer , Gypsophila and sorghum), but were not pathogenic, or only weakly so, to sweetcorn, Limonium and Trifolium . Identification was confirmed by cell-wall fatty acid composition and the bacterium's possession of a single polar flagellum.