Pest & Disease Bacterial canker

Bacterial canker

Pseudomonas syringae

Also Known As - Bacterial blossom blast,Bacterial canker and blast,Bacterial leaf spot,Angular leaf spot,Leaf spot Angular,Citrus blast,Bacterial blight

What is Bacterial canker (Pseudomonas syringae)?

Pseudomonas syringae is a bacterial pathogen that causes economically important diseases in the Pacific Northwest. It infects a wide range of fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants, including plums, cherries, apricots, peaches, and ornamental Prunus species. Common symptoms include flower blast, dead buds, necrotic leaf spots, fruit spots, shoot-tip dieback, stem cankers, and inhibited seed germination. Disease severity varies, with factors like wounds, plant dormancy, soil conditions, and dual infections increasing susceptibility.

How dose Bacterial canker (Pseudomonas syringae) occur?

Pseudomonas syringae reproduces through binary fission, dividing into two identical daughter cells. It rapidly multiplies in favorable conditions of high humidity and moderate temperatures. The bacterium can survive in infected plant debris, weeds, and soil. Spread occurs through water splashes, wind, insects, and contaminated tools. It can also establish latent infections within plant tissues, aiding its long-term persistence and further spread.

Symptoms

1 - Effects on Plants

It can cause various diseases in plants, including leaf spots, blights, cankers, and wilts. It damages plant tissues, reducing photosynthetic capacity and overall plant vigor. Infected plants may experience stunted growth, chlorosis, necrosis, and premature defoliation.

2 - Effects on Soil

The bacteria can persist in soil, particularly in plant debris, affecting soil health and nutrient cycling. It can lead to a decline in soil fertility and disrupt the microbial community, impacting beneficial soil organisms and their functions.

3 - Effects on the Environment

• Pathogens can potentially impact the environment through the contamination of water sources, especially if transmitted via irrigation or rainwater runoff. • The bacteria's introduction to new ecosystems, particularly in agricultural or natural environments, can disrupt local plant populations and ecosystems' balance.

Solutions

1 - Cultural Practices and Crop Rotation

• Implement good sanitation measures by removing and destroying infected plant debris. • Rotate susceptible plant species with non-host plants to disrupt the disease cycle. • Maintain proper plant nutrition and avoid excessive nitrogen fertilization.

2 - Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Resistant Varieties

• Implement an IPM approach, combining various strategies to manage the disease effectively. • Choose and plant resistant or tolerant varieties to reduce susceptibility. • Explore the use of beneficial microorganisms or biocontrol agents to suppress bacterial growth.

3 - Chemical Control

Chemical Control: Antibiotics such as streptomycin and oxytetracycline, as well as copper-based fungicides or bactericides like copper sulfate and copper hydroxide, can be used to treat Pseudomonas syringae infections. Follow label instructions and apply at the right time and concentration.

Susceptible Species

Strawberry Tree

Common Paw Paw

Akane Apple

Ambrosia Apple

Belle de Boskoop Apple

Braeburn Apple

Candied Apple Flowering Crab

Chehalis Apple

Cortland Apple

Cox's Orange Pippin Apple

Dolgo Apple

Donald Wyman Flowering Crab

Elstar Apple

Gala Apple

Golden Delicious Apple

Golden Russet Apple

Granny Smith Apple

Gravenstein Apple

Honeycrisp Apple

Jonagold Apple

Jonathan Apple

Liberty Apple

Lodi Apple

Louisa Flowering Crab

Macintosh Apple

Melrose Apple

Norland Apple

Pink Lady Apple

Red Delicious Apple

Red Jewel Flowering Crab

Scarlet Pippin Apple

Sentinel Flowering Crab

Snowdrift Flowering Crab

Spartan Apple

Summerland Apple

Wealthy Apple

Yellow Transparent Apple

Zestar Apple

pineapple guava

sweet almond bush

apple serviceberry

apple serviceberry

pineapple

pineapple

variegated pineapple

custard apple

strawberry tree

Romanesco broccoli

broccoli

broccoli raab

star apple

pineapple broom

pricklyburr

argyle-apple

pineapple lily

pineapple lily

pineapple lily

pineapple lily

flowering crabapple

flowering crabapple

flowering crabapple

crabapple

apple

Siberian crabapple

flowering crabapple

flowering crabapple

crabapple

flowering crabapple

crabapple

apple

Japanese crabapple

crabapple

flowering crabapple

flowering crabapple

flowering crabapple

apple

dwarf apple

columnar apple

columnar apple

dwarf apple

Sargent crabapple

Sargent crabapple

flowering crabapple

crabapple

flowering crabapple

flowering crabapple

flowering crabapple

redbud crabapple

apple mint

may-apple

may-apple

may-apple

dwarf apricot

dwarf apricot

apricot

apricot

almond

dwarf flowering almond

Manchurian apricot

Japanese apricot

Japanese apricot

Japanese apricot

flowering almond

flowering almond

dappled willow

pineapple sage

pineapple sage

Malaysian apple

tropical almond

atlas broom

Royal Raindrops crabapple

European crabapple

pineapple weed

Sweet Almond Bush

Cashew Nut

Pineapple

Smooth-barked apple

Pond Apple

Mountain Soursop

Custard Apple (Chirimoya - Cuba)

Golden Sugar Apple

Sugar Apple

Pineapple Broom

Pawpaw

Swallow-Wort

Cocky apple

Seven-year Apple

Dwarf Apple Blossom Tree

Apple Blossom Tree

Apple Blossom Tree

Pink Shower Tree

Palmilla

Night Blooming Cereus

Caimito

Burmese Almondwood

Copey

Desert Thorn Apple

Thorn Apple

Thorn Apple

Jimsonweed

Pineapple Orchid

Elephant Apple

Katmon

Velvet Apple

Gold Apple

Kei Apple

Tropical Apricot

Argyle Apple

Pineapple Lily

Pineapple Lily

Pineapple Lily

Feijoa

Seven Year Apple

Urus mane

Urus mane

Pineapple Zamia

Sunsapote

Wood Apple

Osage Orange

Apple

Low Chill Apple

Mammee Apple

Pomme Jacquot

Balsam Apple

Bitter Melon

Mouse's Pineapple

Sweet Calabash

Bell Apple

Apple Leaf

Cocky Apple

Monkey Apple

Cinnamon Apple

Broadleaved Lucuma

Apricot

Almond

Wild Almond tree

Pineapple Sage

Pineapple Cactus

Cockroach berry

Kangaroo Apple

Tropical Soda Apple

Cork Tree

Gedabu

Desert Globemallow

Peon

Water Cherry

Sea Apple

Rose apple

Malay Apple

Wild Rose Apple

Wax jamboo

Red Bush Apple

Adam's Apple

Eve's Apple

Apricot Tecoma

Philippine Almond

Tropical Almond

Madagascar Almond

Wild Custard Apple

Elephant Apple

Apple

Water Apple

White Apple

Pineapple Guava