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Etiological Aspects of Bacterial Blight of Philodendron selloum caused by Erwinia chrysanthemi. J. F. Knauss, Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Agricultural Research Center, Apopka, 32703; J. W. Miller, Plant Pathologist, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry, Gainesville, 32602. Phytopathology 64:1526-1528. Accepted for publication 1 July 1974. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-64-1526.

Erwinia chrysanthemi was isolated from rotted roots, symptomless basal stems, and petioles of 6- to 10-mo-old Phildodendron selloum and from mature fruit of 4- to 5-year-old seed-producing plants. Experimentally, E. chrysanthemi produced a root rot of P. selloum. Disease does not appear to be limited to leaves and petioles as published previously. The apparent systemic nature of E. chrysanthemi in P. selloum probably accounts for the poor disease control often experienced by growers after using antibiotic sprays.