Recent progress on detecting, understanding and controlling Pseudomonas syringae pv. Actinidiae: A short review

Abstract

In the last few years the causal agent of bacterial canker of kiwifruit, Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa), has become a global pathogen of economic importance. Since the beginning of this global outbreak, many laboratories in the world have been working on Psa. Today, it is known that Psa is not a homogeneous pathovar and tools that allow the distinction between biovars (sub-pathovar classiication) have been developed. The whole genome sequence of several strains of Psa has now been published. Some of the assumptions on the life cycle (ports of entry, epiphytic survival, etc.) made in the early days of the outbreak have now been conirmed. Although few new methods have been found to control Psa, there is now a better understanding of how to reduce the incidence of this disease. This paper reviews the progress made in understanding the pathogen, the disease and how to control it. © 2013 New Zealand Plant Protection Society.