Ralstonia solanacearum and R. pseudosolanacearum on Eucalyptus : Opportunists or Primary Pathogens?

• Published in: Frontiers in plant science 2017-05, Vol.8, p.761-761
• Main Authors: Coutinho, Teresa A, Wingfield, Michael J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: abiotic stress; bacterial wilt; biotic stress; clonal Eucalyptus; opportunism; Plant Science
• ISSN: 1664-462X; 1664-462X
• DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.00761

and are well known primary pathogens of herbaceous crops. Reports of wilt caused by these pathogens in tree species are limited other than on species. Despite the widespread occurrence of so-called bacterial wilt on eucalypts in tropical and sub-tropical parts of Africa, Asia, and the Americas, there remain many contradictions relating to the disease. Our field observations over many years in most regions where the disease occurs on show that it is always associated with trees that have been subjected to severe stress. The disease is typically diagnosed by immersing cut stems in water and observing bacterial streaming, but the identity of the bacteria within this suspension is seldom considered. To add to the confusion, pathogenicity tests on susceptible species or clones are rarely successful. When they do work, they are on small plants in greenhouse trials. It has become all to easy to attribute death exclusively to infection. Our data strongly suggest that species and probably other bacteria are latent colonists commonly occurring in healthy and particularly clonally propagated eucalypts. The onset of stress factors provide the bacteria with an opportunity to develop. We believe that the resulting stress weakens the defense systems of the trees allowing and bacterial endophytes to proliferate. Overall our research suggests that and are not primary pathogens of . Short of clear evidence that they are primary pathogens of it is inappropriate to attribute this disease solely to infection by species.