Population of bacteria infecting cauliflower in Yugoslavia

Abstract

During the last several years, samples of diseased cauliflower plants were collected from different growing regions in Yugoslavia. Two types of symptoms were noticed: dark brown or black rot of cauliflower heads and V-shaped chlorosis along the leaf margin. Both types of symptoms were caused by phytopathogenic bacteria. Cultural, biochemical, physiological and serological characteristics of the strains isolated were studied. The results obtained indicated that several pathogenic bacteria, belonging to different genera, were responsible for the symptoms on cauliflower plants. According to the bacteriological characteristics, as causal agents of dark brown cauliflower head rot in Yugoslavia Pseudomonas viridiflava, P. cichorii and P. marginalis pv. marginalis were identified. However, from the soft rotted tissue the strains of Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora were isolated. Apart from bacteria belonging to genera Pseudomonas and Erwinia, Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris was identified as a causal agent of cauliflower leaf chlorosis and black rot of vascular system.