Bacterial Spot and Blight Diseases of Ornamental Plants caused by Different Xanthomonas Species in Turkey

Putative strains belonging to Xanthomonas spp. causing leaf spot and blight diseases on geranium (Pelargonium peltatum and P. hortorum), begonia (Begonia x tuberhybrida), anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum), Chinese hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), and English ivy (Hedera helix) growing in Turkey were isolated. All bacterial strains were classified as Gram-negative, oxidase negative, catalase, levan and starch hydrolysis positive, with hypersensitive reaction positive on tobacco and pathogenic to host plants. Identification of these strains was further confirmed by serological method using ELISA kits, conventional PCR, carbon utilisation, and FAME. Results of the identification showed that 28, 24, 10, 2, and 1 strains were identified as X. axonopodis pv. begoniae, X. hortorum pv. pelargonii, X. axonopodis pv. dieffenbachiae, X. hortorum pv. hederae, and Xanihomonas sp., respectively. This is the first report of X. hortorum pv. hederae on English ivy in Turkey.Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK)Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [TOVAG 106 O 333]; Cukurova University, TurkeyCukurova University [ZF2005BAP9]Supported by the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK), Grant No. TOVAG 106 O 333, and by the Cukurova University, Turkey, Project No. ZF2005BAP9