Xanthomonas axonopodis pv.

allii (an emerging disease of onion and garlic crops)

Why
A new bacterium, Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. allii, causing damage to Allium
crops has been reported from several parts of the world as an emerging disease.
Where
The disease was first observed in Barbados in 1971, and then spread to other
continents (America, Africa and Asia).
EPPO region: absent.
Asia: Japan.
Africa: Mauritius, Runion, South Africa.
North America: USA (California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Texas)
Central America and Caribbean: Barbados, Cuba.
South America: Brazil, Venezuela.
On which plants Allium species (A. cepa (onion), A. sativum (garlic), A. porrum (leek), A.
schoenoprasum (chives), A. ascallonicum (shallot), A. fistulosum (Welsh onion)).
The disease tends to be more severe on onions.
Damage
Leaf lesions initially appear as white flecks, pale spots, or lenticular lesions with
water-soaked margins. Lesions quickly enlarged, becoming brownish, with
extensive water-soaking. As the disease progresses, lesions coalesce causing tip
dieback and extensive blighting of older leaves. Reduction of foliage leads to
stunting of the plants and smaller bulbs. In case of severe outbreaks, premature
plant death is observed. The disease is favoured by high temperatures (higher
than 27 C) and severe outbreaks usually occur shortly (7 to 10 days) after a
period of humid, rainy weather. In USA, yield reductions of 20 % or greater are
commonly observed in affected fields.
Dissemination
X. axonopodis pv. allii is seed-transmitted. Within crops, wind and irrigation (in
particular overhead irrigation) can ensure further spread of the disease.
Dissemination is favoured by storms with hail. The bacterium can also survive on
crop debris and volunteer Allium plants. It may be also disseminated by infected
debris adhering to workers and equipment.
Pathway
Allium seeds, bulbs for planting from countries where X. axonopodis pv. allii
occurs.
Possible risks
Allium crops are widely grown in the EPPO region. Severe outbreaks have been
reported with crop losses from countries where the bacterium occurs. Control
measures are available (use of healthy seeds and bulbs, destruction of volunteer
onions, destruction of plant debris, rotations, chemical control) but should be
applied in combination. For the moment, no routine diagnostic test is available
for testing Allium seeds. Although more data is needed on the amount of imports
of Allium seeds (or bulbs) from infected countries and on the potential of
establishment of this disease in Europe, the introduction of infected seeds (or
bulbs) presents a risk to Allium crops, particularly in the south of Europe.
Source(s)

EPPO RS 2005/063
Panel review date

Humeau L, Roumagnac P, Soustrade I, Gagnevin L, Degas J, Jeuffrault E, Pruvost O (2004) Une maladie
mergente de loignon la Runion. Le dprissement bactrien caus par Xanthomonas
axonopodis pv. allii. Phytoma La Dfense des Vgtaux, no. 573, 28-30.
Roumagnac P, Pruvost O, Chiroleu F, Hugues G (2004) Spatial and temporal analyses of bacterial blight
of onion caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. allii. Phytopathology, 94(2), 138-146.
INTERNET
Colorado State University. Cooperative Extension. Xanthomonas leaf blight of onion by H. Schwartz
and D. H. Gent. http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/02951.html
2009-02

Entry date 2005-04