Xanthomonas albilineans(Ashby) Dowson: cultivars susceptibility and effects in the sugar yield

Abstract

The effects produced by the Xanthomonas albilineans (Ashby) Dowson on stalks with acute symptoms of the disease have been addressed by different authors, however, is unknown the effects that may occur in seropositive asymptomatic stems to the bacteria. This work has as objective to study the impact of the presence of bacteria in the colonized tissues, as well as the relationship between the concentration of cells and the expression of symptoms. In 900 stems of 14 cultivars detected the bacteria by serology and identified the variables Brix of stem with handheld refractometer, as well as the contents of fructose, glucose and sucrose whit High Performance Liquid Chromatographic. The presence of the bacterium X. albilineans in asymptomatic stems affects the sugar content of the same, which constitutes a contribution to the knowledge of the pathogen - host relations for this disease. The stems are colonized by the bacteria, but the amount of UFC/g of tissue or per ml/juice does not mean that a cultivar is more or less susceptible. In stalks with symptoms the cell density increases toward the foliage, while that in the asymptomatic happens to the contrary.

Keywords

• sugars
• cultivars
• colonization