Susceptibility of species of Juglans to pathovars of Xanthomonas campestris

Summary Bacterial blight is considered one of the most serious diseases affecting the genus Juglans. Artificial inoculations with Xanthomonas campestris pv. Juglandis were performed in the field by spraying seedlings of Juglans cinerea, Juglans hindsii, Juglans mandshurica, Juglans nigra, Juglans regia and Juglans sieboldiana. Juglans nigra, J. cinerea ana J. sieboldiana proved to be the most resistant. The multiplication ability of Xanthomonas campestris pv. corylina, X. c. pv. juglandis, and X. c. pv. campestris was evaluated by injecting 2-year-old seedling leaves of J. mandshurica, J. nigra and J. regia. The bacterial growth was monitored in the infected tissue over 12 days. Xanthomonas c. pv. juglandis exhibited a high growth rate and induced black greasy spots in J. mandshurica and J. regia; X. c. pv. campestris grew in leaf tissues without inducing symptoms, X. c. pv. corylina showed a very low growth rate. None of the tested bacterial strains multiplied in the leaves of J. nigra. This confirms the results obtained in the field tests. Juglans regia was the most susceptible among the walnut species tested.