First report of mixed infection by Pseudomonas syringae pathovars garcae and tabaci on coffee plantations

Abstract

The bacterial-halo-blight (Pseudomonas syringae pv. garcae) is disseminated by the main coffee areas in the producing states of Brazil. On the other hand, the disease bacterial-leaf-spot (Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci) was reported only once in coffee seedlings in a sample collected in the State of São Paulo. In mid-2015, samples of coffee leaves with symptoms of foliar lesions surrounded by yellow halo, were collected in coffee plantations in the State of Paraná and fluorescent bacteria producing or not brown pigment in culture medium were isolated and determined as belonging to the Group I of P. syringae. Through biochemical, serological and pathogenicity tests, the pathogens were identified as P. syringae pv. garcae and P. syringae pv. tabaci, with prevalence of isolates belonging to pathovar tabaci and, as well as in certain samples, it was identified simultaneous infection by both etiological agents. Then, this is the first report of associated occurrence of garcae and tabaci pathovars of P. syringae and of the incidence of “bacterial-leaf-spot” under field conditions and in the State of Paraná.