Distribution and Severity of Plum Leaf Scald Disease in Brazil. William J. French, Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Agricultural Research Center, Monticello 32344. Alberto Feliciano, Plant Pathologist, EMBRAPA, UEPAE de Cascata, Pelotas, R. S. Brazil. Plant Dis. 66:515-517. Accepted for publication 30 December 1981. Copyright 1982 American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-66-515.

Plum leaf scald, a disease of Japanese and European plum associated with xylem-limited bacteria, was widespread in the south of Brazil. The disease, known locally as “plum decline,” caused extensive dieback and, in some cases, the total destruction of commercial orchards. Plum leaf scald was recorded on 31 Japanese and six European cultivars. Santa Rosa, the major cultivar of the region, appeared highly susceptible. Seven genera of leafhoppers including several species of Oncometopia, an important vector genus of similar xylem-borne phytopathogenic bacteria, were collected from infected orchards.

Keyword(s): Aulacizes, Bucephalogania, Dilobopterus, Prunus domestica, Prunus salicina, Tapajosa, Torresabela, Tretogonia.