2013/083     First report of Pantoea stewartii in Argentina

During the 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 growing seasons, symptoms of bacterial leaf blight were observed in maize (Zea mays) crops in the province of Córdoba, Argentina. In this province, the disease incidence reached around 54%. Leaf samples were collected from 10 symptomatic maize plants, grown in 15 fields covering a representative geographical area. Molecular (PCR) and pathogenicity tests confirmed the presence of Pantoea stewartii(EPPO A2 List) in diseased maize plants. This is the first time that P. stewartii is reported from Argentina.

The situation of Pantoea stewartii in Argentina can be described as follows: Present, first detected during the 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 maize growing seasons in the province of Córdoba.