Title
First confirmed report of bacterial wilt of tomato in Georgia caused by Ralstonia solanacearum.
Author(s)
Mepharishvili, G.; Sikharulidze, Z.; Thwaites, R.; Tsetskhladze, T.; Dumbadze, R.; Gabaidze, M.; Muradashvili, M.
Author Affiliation
Shota Rustaveli State University Scientific Centre, 90, Tavisupleba str., Kobuleti 6200, Republic of Georgia.
Journal article
New Disease Reports 2012 Vol. 25 pp. 16
ISSN
2044-0588
DOI
10.5197/j.2044-0588.2012.025.016
Publisher information
British Society for Plant Pathology, Reading, UK
Language of Text
English
URL
http://www.ndrs.org.uk/article.php?id=025016
Record Number
20123231805
Abstract
In June 2010, a wilt disease affecting tomato seedlings was reported by farmers in Chkhorotsku region, Western Georgia, causing up to 100% plant loss. Anecdotal reports suggested that aubergine and sweet pepper plants in farms in the same region were also infected. Similar symptoms indicative of bacterial wilt caused by R. solanacearum, which included wilting and vascular discolouration, were also observed in 2010 by farmers in Kutaisi region. The disease was also observed in tomato plants in a plant health clinic in Kutaisi in July 2011. Symptoms observed in these specimens included wilting of entire plants and vascular discolouration. An isolate obtained from infected material at Fera was identified as R. solanacearum by real-time PCR amplification. This is thought to be the first report of bacterial wilt caused by R. solanacearum in Georgia.