First report of Sphingomonas sp. causing bacterial leaf blight of rice in Benin, Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Ivory Coast, Mali, Nigeria, Tanzania and Togo

Abstract

Surveys of rice growing areas were conducted from 2011 to 2015 with the aim of assessing the importance of bacterial diseases in Benin, Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania and Togo. Between 100 to 500 samples showing symptoms consistent with leaf blight were collected from each country. Symptoms included yellow-brown discolourations along one of the two leaf blades, turning brown to dark-brown with age (Fig. 1). Severely affected leaves developed necrotic patches and died.