Survival of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri in leaf lesions under tropical environmental conditions and simulated splash dispersal of inoculum

Asiatic citrus canker (ACC) is a severe disease of several citrus species and hybrids in many tropical and subtropical areas. Populations of #Xanthomonas axonopodis# pv. #citri# in leaf and twig lesions are the most important inoculum source for secondary infections. In areas with a marked winter season (e.g., Argentina and Japan), low temperatures induce a decrease of 100 to 10000 in population sizes in lesions, thus creating a discontinuity in the #X. axonopodis# pv. #citri# life cycle. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dynamics of #X. axonopodis# pv. #citri# populations in leaf lesions exposed to the mild winter temperatures prevailing in a tropical environment. Internal #X. axonopodis# pv. #citri# population levels in Mexican lime leaf lesions reached 1000000 to 10000000 CFU lesion-1 whatever the lesion size. These densities, however, were not strongly negatively affected by winter temperatures prevailing under experimental conditions. The estimated decrease in internal #X. axonopodis# pv. #citri# population sizes was approximately 10-fold. When exposed to 35 mm h-1 of simulated rainfall, internal population sizes decreased over time by =1 log unit for lesions 1 and 2 months old, but did not for older lesions. A microscopic examination indicated that lignin-like compounds are present in lesions more than 6 months old. The slow decrease over time of #X. axonopodis# pv. #citri# population sizes in leaf lesions may be the balanced result of defense reactions by the host at late stages of disease development, and the concomitant multiplication of the pathogen at the margin of old lesions. We conclude that the epidemiological significance of overwintered leaf lesions in the tropics is higher than that reported in other areas. (Résumé d'auteur