First report of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis in Syria
In Syria, extensive surveys for Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (EPPO A2 List) were conducted in tomato glasshouses from March to mid-April 2007. These surveys were carried out in the coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus, where a large proportion of Syrian fresh-market tomatoes are grown. The occurrence of typical symptoms was observed in 7 % of the 150 inspected glasshouses (on Lycopersicon esculentum cvs. Dima, Huda and Astona). It was estimated that in these infected glasshouses, disease incidence reached 15%. Laboratory analysis (morphology, biochemical and biological tests, PCRs) confirmed the presence of C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis. This is the first record of this bacterium in Syria.
The situation of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis in Syria can be described as follows: Present, first detected in spring 2007 on glasshouse tomatoes, in the provinces of Latakia and Tartus (Northwest).
Sources
Ftayeh R, von Tiedemann A, Koopmann B, Rudolph K, Abu-Ghorrah M (2008) First record of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis causing canker of tomato plants in Syria. Plant Disease 92(4), p 649.