Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. poinsettiae. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].
Abstract A description is provided for Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. poinsettiae. Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOST: Euphorbia pulcherrima. DISEASE: Bacterial canker of poinsettia. The early symptoms are usually watersoaked streaks on green stems. These may extend into petioles and leaves giving spots, blotches or defoliation, and downwards into the woody stem where it produces yellowing of the cortex and browning of vascular tissue. Golden brown bacterial ooze may be seen on ruptured stems and on leaf lesions. The disease is systemic and cuttings from infected stock plants may develop poorly or not at all. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand (N. Island), USA (Florida, New Jersey, New York, MD, Pennsylvania; also Alabama (40: 310)); possibly UK (isolated in 1984, but still regarded as non-indigenous) (IMI Distribution Map 550, ed. 1, 1982). TRANSMISSION: This disease is spread in infected cuttings and probably by water splash as infection can be artificially induced by spray inoculation without wounding (41: 604).