CHARACTERIZATION OF XANTHOMONAS ARBORICOLA pv. JUGLANDIS ISOLATED FROM WALNUTS IN LITHUANIA

Abstract

This study records the presence of bacterial walnut blight, caused by Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis (Xaj), on walnuts (Juglans spp.) in Lithuania and confirms that its geographic distribution has been underestimated. The pathogen caused the most serious symptoms on J. cinerea and J. mandshurica trees. DNA typing methods (rep-PCR and MLST) used for characterization of Xaj isolates disclosed a high similarity among them. Strains from Lithuania, however, showed a still not fully understood difference from Xaj strains from Poland, a neighbouring country, that needs further investigation.