Bacterial Leaf Blight Incited by Pseudomonas cichorii in Schefflera arboricola and Some Related Plants. A. R. Chase, Associate Professor of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, IFAS, Agricultural Research Center, Apopka, FL 32703. D. D. Brunk, Plant Pathologist, Plant Disease Diagnostics, Inc., Apopka, FL 32703. Plant Dis. 68:73-74. Accepted for publication 20 September 1983. Copyright 1984 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-68-73.

A leaf blight of Schefflera arboricola (dwarf schefflera) was found to be caused by Pseudomonas cichorii. Isolates of the pathogen from dwarf schefflera were also pathogenic on Brassaia actinophylla (schefflera), Chrysanthemum morifolium (florists’ chrysanthemum), Cichorium endivia (endive), Dizygotheca elegantissima (false aralia), Fatshedera sp. (tree ivy), Fatsia japonica (Japanese aralia), Gerbera jamesonii (Transvaal daisy), Hedera helix (English ivy), Lactuca sativa (lettuce), and Polyscias fruticosa (parsley aralia). Isolates from chrysanthemum and Transvaal daisy were pathogenic on dwarf schefflera, causing symptoms similar to those caused by dwarf schefflera isolates. This is the first report of P. cichorii as a pathogen of dwarf schefflera.