First Report of Black Rot of Cauliflower and Kale Caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris in Yugoslavia.

In Yugoslavia, Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris was isolated from forage kale in 1964 and cabbage in 1997 (1). Recently, the incidence and severity of black rot symptoms on cabbage, cauliflower, and kale have increased. Gram-negative, rod-shaped, motile bacteria were isolated from the diseased leaf and vascular tissues of cauliflower and kale plants collected from 1995 to 1998. The isolates formed yellow, convex, mucoid colonies on yeast dextrose chalk medium, metabolized glucose oxidatively, grew at 37°C, hydrolyzed gelatin and esculin, produced acids from d-arabinose, glucose, sucrose, and trehalose, and did not reduce nitrates. They were nonfluorescent, amylolytic and pectolytic, oxidase negative and catalase positive, and tolerant to 5% NaCl but not to 0.1% triphenyl tetrazolium chloride. Koch's postulates were completed by injecting bacterial suspensions (10⁸ CFU/ml) into leaf petioles of cabbage, cauliflower, and kale seedlings (2- to 3-leaf stage). Dark green watersoaking of petioles and leaf veins followed by yellowing and collapse of inoculated plants was observed after 3 to 5 days. When compared with published information (2), the isolates were identified as X. campestris pv. campestris. This is the first occurrence of this bacterium in cauliflower and kale in Yugoslavia. References: (1) O. Jovanovic et al. Plant Prot. Belgrade 221:175, 1997. (2) N. W. Schaad. 1988. Laboratory Guide for Identification of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria. 2nd ed. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN.