Diversity of Corynebacterium nebraskense Strains Causing Goss’s Bacterial Wilt and Blight of Corn. A. K. Vidaver, Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln 68583. D. C. Gross, Assistant Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman 99163; D. S. Wysong, Professor of Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln; and B. L. Doupnik, Jr., Department of Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska, Clay Center 68933. Plant Dis. 65:480-483. Copyright 1981 American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-65-480.

The bacterium Corynebacterium nebraskense, first isolated in 1969 from a localized area, was detected in essentially all the corn (maize) growing areas of Nebraska and in bordering states by 1979. The 85 strains collected over this decade were classified by bacteriocin and bacteriophage typing into eight groups; most strains fell into one of four groups. Except during 1969, the strains had no apparent correlation with either the year of isolation or geographic source.