First report of bacterial speck of tomato caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato in Tanzania

First report of bacterial speck of tomato caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato in Tanzania

2007

A:PS

In April 2004, there was a serious outbreak of a tomato leaf spot disease in Mgeta, Mvomera, Tanzania. The disease was characterized by lesions on green tomato fruits that were small, sunken and black, and were surrounded by darker green haloes. Lesions on ripe tomato fruits were dark brown to black, superficial, and measured approximately 1 to 2 mm in diameter. On the leaves, lesions were small, black, and surrounded by chlorotic (yellow) haloes. In some cases, the specks coalesced to form large lesions on older leaves. Black lesions were also observed on stems and petioles. A disease survey of selected tomato-producing areas in Arusha, Dodoma, Iringa and Morogoro regions of Tanzania during 2004 and 2005 revealed that the disease was widespread in farmers' fields in all areas surveyed. Disease incidence was approximately 80%, while severity, ranged from moderate (11 to 40 lesions per plant) to severe (>40 lesions per plant). The pathogen was identified as Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato. This is thought to be the first occurrence of tomato bacterial speck in Tanzania.

v.91(4):462, PLANT DISEASE

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