Characteristics of Strains of Pseudomonas solanacearum from China. L. Y. He, Associate Scientist, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China. L. Sequeira and A. Kelman, Professors, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706. Plant Dis. 67:1357-1361. Accepted for publication 17 June 1983. Copyright 1983 American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-67-1357.

Twenty-nine strains of Pseudomonas solanacearum isolated from 14 cultivated and wild host plants in different locations in China were compared in terms of physiological characteristics in culture and pathogenicity to six differential host plants. Based on Hayward’s classification scheme, two strains were placed in biotype II, 14 in biotype III, and 10 in biotype IV. Three strains from mulberry, however, differed from established biotypes because of their ability to produce acid from lactose, maltose, cellobiose, and mannitol but not from dulcitol and sorbitol. Also, they were only slightly virulent on potato (cultivar Russet Burbank) and eggplant (cultivar Black Beauty). Most other strains were highly virulent on these hosts. The strains from mulberry were tentatively classified as race 4, biotype V.

Keyword(s): bacterial wilt.