Recent research progress on Xanthomonas ampelina1

Bacterial blight of grapevine (caused by Xanthomonas ampelina) occurs in Greece, France, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Portugal, USSR and South Africa. It is a serious, chronic vascular disease which is widespread in some areas of grape production, affecting commercially important cultivars. There is evidence that the disease is presently spreading into new areas in some countries. The actual distribution of blight may be much wider, since its symptoms may be confused with those of other diseases. It is therefore essential to confirm the presence of X. ampelina by isolation and identification. X. ampelina is an anomalous member of the genus Xanthomonas which is readily distinguished on the basis of a few tests. The pathogen may also be rapidly detected in grapevine sap using the indirect immunofluorescence technique. The susceptibility of shoots to infections, under Cretan conditions, is highest from November to late January and very low during February and March. It has been found that up to 50% of apparently healthy canes obtained from diseased vineyards were latently infected. Transmission of the pathogen through soil and roots during the control of Daktulosphaira vitifolii or frost damage by flooding has been demonstrated in France. Several of the more widely grown cultivars were found to be very susceptible to the pathogen while no completely resistant cultivar has been detected. Control trials based on four sprays with a number of chemicals were unsuccessful. Control policy should be directed: (a) to preventing spread of the disease, by exclusive use of certified material; (b) to minimizing the disease in affected areas by suitable sanitary, cultural and preventive measures.