Abstract
A description is provided for Pseudomonas lachrymans. Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: On Cucumis sativus and C. anguria. It may also attack C. melo var. inodorus (26: 140) and some other cucurbits. Elliott (31: 105) lists 10 hosts, all in the Cucurbitaceae. DISEASE: Angular leaf spot of cucumber. Small water-soaked spots appear on the leaves, petioles, stems, and fruits. On leaves they enlarge and become angular as they are delimited by veins They become tan to brown and the necrotic centres may fall out. On petioles, stems, and fruit spots develop white crusty bactenal exudate. A fruit rot develops if the bacteria penetrate deeply. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: North and parts of Central America, most of Europe, U.S.S.R., China, Japan, W. Australia, Israel, southern Africa. (CMI Map 355, ed. 2, 1964). TRANSMISSION: The pathogen is seed-borne and infects the cotyledons dunng germination. It can overwinter on infected crop residue in the soil and has been found viable in dry leaf matenal after two and a half years (36: 677). The bacteria are carried from plant to plant within a crop by rain splash and probably by insects (Carsner, 1918; 31: 272). Workers can also spread the disease, particularly when foliage is wet with rain or dew (35: 810).