First report of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ in Ecuador
Bactericera cockerelli (Hemiptera: Triozidae - EPPO A1 List), vector of zebra chip disease, was first reported in several provinces of Ecuador in March 2019 (EPPO RS 2019/92) but at that time ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ (Solanaceae haplotypes are listed in the EPPO A1 List) had not been detected. In June 2019, symptoms such as yellowing and upward rolling in leaves and browning of vascular tissues and streaks at the medullary area in tubers were observed in potato (Solanum tuberosum) fields located in the Pichincha province. High population levels of B. cockerelli were associated with the occurrence of these symptoms. ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ haplotype A was detected in two potato samples taken from symptomatic potato plants as well as from specimens of B. cockerelli using conventional PCR. The identity of the pathogen was confirmed by DNA sequencing.
The situation of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ in Ecuador can be described as: Present.
Sources
Caicedo JD, Simbaña LL, Calderón DA, Lalangui KP, Rivera-Vargas LI (2020) First report of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ in Ecuador and in South America. Australasian Plant Disease Notes 15, 6. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13314-020-0375-0