Xanthomonas campestris pv. graminis . [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria

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Abstract A description is provided for Xanthomonas campestris pv. graminis . Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: Lolium italicum, L. multiflorum, L. perenne, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca pratensis , and Trisetum flavescens . Single cases of natural infection of Agropyron repens, Phalaris arundinacea and Phleum pratense are also recorded (62, 241), but their status in the natural host range is unknown. In inoculation tests (Egli et al. , 1975; Egli & Schmidt, 1982) the following were highly susceptible: Alopecurus pratensis, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca arundinacea, F. pratensis, F. rubra, Lolium loliaceum, L. multiforum, L . parabolicae, L. perenne, L. remotum, L. temulentum, Phleum arenarium and P. bertolonii . Showing much less susceptibility were Agrostis alba, Arrhenatherum elatius, Phleum alpinum, P. phleoides, P. pratense, Poa annua, P. compressa, P. fertilis, P. memoralis, P. pratensis and P. trivialis . Leyns et al. (61, 6162) found that Agrosas tenuis and Festuca ovina were moderately susceptible when inoculated. Egli et al. (1975) recorded doubtful symptoms on Hordeum vulgare and Triacum aestivam on inoculation, but consider that they are unlikely to be naturally infected. DISEASE: Bacterial wilt of forage grasses. Symptoms usually first noticed at the heading stage, when young leaves curl and wither, and shoots remain stunted or may die. Other plants will continue to make poor growth and produce small, distorted inflorescences. Chlorotic and necrotic zones form on the older leaves along long stretches of vascular bundles, often extending into the sheaths. Bacterial streaming may be seen under the microscope from the cut ends of vascular bundles of infected tissue mounted in water. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: CMI Map 533, ed. 1, 1979 lists France, Germany, Switzerland and Wales, to which must be added Scotland (63, 2925), Belgium (61, 4199), Netherlands, Norway (62, 241), and New Zealand (62, 241). Possibly in USA (IL; 61, 5045) though this disease is currently attributed to a Rickettsia- like organism. TRANSMISSION: Within the crop transmission is presumed to be by the blades of mowing machines.