Bacterial rot of witloof chicory roots caused by Erwinia chrysanthemi

Erwinia chrysanthemi (biovars 5 and 6) was isolated from unusual symptoms on witloof chicory, both in the field and in hydroponic culture, in Brittany in 1989 and 1990. Symptoms included a greyish-brown soft rot on the lower part of the root and the destruction of the cortical tissues. The cribrovascular and the medullary part of the bottom of the root sometimes became slimy. A few cases of vascular transmission were observed, which resulted in a red coloration of the infected vessels and a soft rot of the leaves.