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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wapato, Washington » Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #289068
Title: Candidatus liberibacter solanacearum

Author
item Munyaneza, Joseph - Joe

Submitted to: European & Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/12/2012
Publication Date: 5/30/2014
Citation: Munyaneza, J.E. 2014. Candidatus liberibacter solanacearum. European & Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization. 43: 197-201.

Interpretive Summary: Zebra chip, an economically important disease of potato in U.S., Mexico, Central America and New Zealand, is caused by the bacterium Liberibacter transmitted to potato by the potato psyllid vector. The bacterium also severely damages other solanaceous crops, including tomato, pepper, and eggplant. Researchers at USDA-ARS Wapato, WA provided information on how to identify the bacterium and discussed its geographic distribution, biology, spread, economic importance and management. This information will assist in preventing spread of Liberibacter to minimize damage caused by this plant pathogen.

Technical Abstract: Zebra chip (ZC) is a new and economically important disease of potato in the United States, Mexico, Central America, and New Zealand. This disease has caused millions of dollars in losses to the potato industry. Whole crops might be rejected because of high levels of ZC, often leading to abandonment of entire fields. Chips or fries processed from ZC-infected tubers exhibit dark stripes that become markedly more visible with frying, and hence are commercially unacceptable. ZC-infected tubers usually do not sprout and if they do, produce hair sprouts or weak plants. ZC has been associated with a previously undescribed species of liberibacter, tentatively named “Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum”, also known as “Ca. L. psyllaurous”. The bacterium is transmitted to potato by the potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Šulc). This plant pathogen also severely damages other solanaceous crops, including tomato, pepper, and eggplant. Liberibacter identification, geographic distribution, biology, spread, epidemiology, economic importance and management are discussed herein.