Bacterial fruit blotch

Bacterial fruit blotch
Common namesBFB
Causal agentsAcidovorax citrulli
HostsCucurbitaceae (melon and watermelon)
EPPO CodePSDMAC

Bacterial fruit blotch (BFB) affects cucurbit plants around the world and can be a serious threat to farmers because it spreads through contaminated seed. BFB is the result of an infection by Gram-negative Acidovorax citrulli bacteria, which has only been recently studied in detail.[1] Members of A. citrulli are Gram-negative rod shaped bacteria with the dimensions 0.5× 1.7 μm. They move via polar flagella.[2] No known reliable sources of BFB resistance exist today, so seed hygiene and thorough testing of breeding facilities are the best way to control spreading. No known control methods, however, are extremely reliable for reducing BFB infection.[3]

  1. ^ Bin Li, Yu Shi, Changlin Shan, Qing Zhou, Muhammad Ibrahim, Yanli Wang, Guoxing Wu, Hongye Li, Guanlin Xiea and Guochang Sunb. Effect of chitosan solution on the inhibition of Acidovorax citrulli causing bacterial fruit blotch of watermelon. J Sci Food Agric 93 1010-1015 2013.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference bahar was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ F.C.Q Carvalho, Santos, L.A., Dias, R.C.S., Mariano, R.L.R., and Souza, E.B. (2012). Selection of watermelon genotypes for resistance to bacterial fruit blotch. Euphytica. 190:169-180.