Bacterial Canker Disease of Wild Actinidia Plants as the Infection Source of Outbreak of Bacterial Canker of Kiwifruit Caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae.

Abstract

Isolates classified as P. syringae pv. actinidiae on the basis of serological characteristics, using a monoclonal antibody, were obtained from 6 samples of Actinidia arguta and A. kolomikta out of a total of 90 collected from various parts of Japan. Although some differences in pathogenicity were found among 22 isolates, inoculation tests indicated the susceptibility of actinidia plants. As the bacterium was present in Hokkaido, where kiwifruits (A. deliciosa) are not found, it was concluded that the kiwifruit canker pathogen originated on wild A. spp. and spread to kiwifruit vines.