The bacterial wilt diseases caused by members of the Ralstonia solanacearum species complex have never been more important. The research presented in this volume reveals a pathogen on the move, with a growing global profile. While these diseases inflict ongoing and increasing crop losses on subsistence farmers, the pathogen now has significant political and economic impact in the developed world.

This book, based on the 3rd International Bacterial Wilt Symposium, covers topics ranging from the basic biology of the host-pathogen interaction to applied research, designed to immediately address disease losses in the field. Contributors to the book span a broad range of applied and basic biologists. They work in all parts of the world, offering current data on sustainable low-tech disease control practices and on R. solanacearum as a model system for understanding molecular plant-microbe interactions.

The book opens with two key reviews. One presents a thoughtful analysis of international collaborations on bacterial wilt research in the context of a review of literature published on the topic. The second is a global assessment of the current impact of bacterial wilt. Although there are still significant gaps in the data available, for the first time a general idea of the real impact and extent of these diseases around the world is presented.

Topics covered in this resource include: epidemiology, disease management, breeding and deployment, host plant response and disease management, pathogen genetics, R. solanacearum in banana and plantains, and diversity and detection. Experts provide overviews focusing on the pressing research needs in each area. These overview chapters are intended to give the reader the best current understanding of the topic and to suggest promising directions for future research.

R. solanacearum is a contentious topic in agricultural trade negotiations in the European Union and is subject to strict quarantine and eradication regulations in the United States. This legislation has had unforeseen economic impacts on laborers in developing nations where millions of ornamental plant cuttings are produced for the North American and European markets. In addition, reports at the 3rd International Bacterial Wilt Symposium indicated that the most rapid and alarming increases in bacterial wilt disease incidence around the world are on potatoes, bananas and plantains. More than ever, scientists who work with this pathogen must recognize that although bacterial wilt certainly can cause severe crop losses on a local scale, it also plays a complex and significant role in the worldwide agricultural matrix.

Bacterial Wilt Disease and the Ralstonia solanacearum Species Complex

Introductory Overviews

Research on Bacterial Wilt: A Perspective on International Linkages and Access to the Literature
The Current Bacterial Wilt Situation: A Global Overview

Epidemiology of Ralstonia solanacearum

Introduction and Prospectus on the Survival of Introduction and Prospectus on the Survival of R. solanacearum
Fate of Ralstonia solanacearum Biovar 2 as Affected by Conditions and Soil Treatments in Temperate Climate Zones
Mechanization Has Contributed to the Spread of Bacterial Wilt on Flue-cured Tobacco in the Southeastern USA
Processes in the Development of a Biocontrol Agent Against Bacterial Wilt
Colonization Capacity of Ralstonia solanacearum Tomato Strains Differing in Aggressiveness on Tomatoes and Weeds
Introduction to Europe of Ralstonia solanacearum Biovar 2, Race 3 in Pelargonium zonale Cuttings from Kenya
Seeds from Infected Tomato Plants Appear to be Free from Contamination by Ralstonia solanacearum when Tested by PCR or Microbiological Assays
The Viable but Non-culturable State in Ralstonia solanacearum: Is there a Realistic Threat to our Strategic Concepts?

Bacterial Wilt Disease Management

Management of Bacterial Wilt Disease
Management of Bacterial Wilt in Tomato with Essential Oils and Systemic Acquired Resistance Inducers
Monitoring of Bacterial Wilt in Potato Propagation Material: A Success Story
Integrated Control of Potato Bacterial Wilt in Eastern Africa: The Experience of African Highlands Initiative
Using Brassica spp. as Biofumigants to Reduce the Population of Ralstonia solanacearum
Seed-plot technique: Empowerment of Farmers in Production of Bacterial Wilt-free Seed Potato in Kenya and Uganda
Primary Bacterial Wilt Study on Tomato in Vegetable Areas of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Rhizome Solarization and Microwave Treatment: Ecofriendly Methods for Disinfecting Ginger Seed Rhizomes
Management of Bacterial Wilt of Potato Using One-Season Rotation Crops in South Western Uganda
Potato Bacterial Wilt Management: New Prospects for an Old Problem

Breeding and Deployment of Wilt-Resistant Crops

A Broad Review and Perspective on Breeding for Resistance to Bacterial Wilt
Progress on Genetic Enhancement for Resistance to Groundnut Bacterial Wilt in China
Search for Resistance to Bacterial Wilt in a Brazilian Capsicum Germplasm Collection
Solanum phureja and S. stenotomum Are Sources of Resistance to Ralstonia solanacearum for Somatic Hybrids of Potato
Assessment of Resistance to Bacterial Wilt in CIP Advanced Potato Clones
Screening Long Pepper (Piper spp.) Resistance to Bacterial Wilt Caused by Ralstonia solanacearum

Host Plant Response and Disease Development

Host Resistance to Ralstonia solanacearum
Microscopic Studies of Root Infection in Resistant Tomato cv. Hawaii 7996
Development of Bacterial Wilt Resistant Varieties and Basis of Resistance in Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)
QTL Mapping for Bacterial Wilt Resistance in Hawaii 7996 Using AFLP, RGA, and SSR Markers
Genetic Basis of Resistance to Bacterial Wilt in Arabidopsi thaliana
Roles of the Hrp-Secreted PopA Protein in Ralstonia solanacearum Interactions with Plants

Pathogen Genetics

A short history of the Biochemical and Genetic Research on Ralstonia solanacearum Pathogenesis
The Ralstonia solanacearum Complete Genome Sequence: Outputs and Prospects
Genes Involved in Early Bacterial Wilt Pathogenesis
Phase Reversion from Phenotype Conversion Mutants to Wild Type May be Induced in Ralstonia solanacearum by a Susceptible Host Plant
Insertions in the Avirulence Gene AvrA Alter the Virulence of Ralstonia solanacearum on Nicotiana tabacum
Ralstonia solanacearum requires Type-4 Pili for Twitching Motility, Adherence, Natural Transformation and Virulence
Understanding The Molecular Basis Of Bacterial Wilt Disease: A View From The Inside Out
 

R. solanacearum in Banana and Plantains

Bacterial Wilt Diseases of Banana: Evolution and Ecology
Comparative Genome Plasticity of Tomato and Banana Strains of Ralstonia solanacearum in the Philippines
Present Status of Blood Disease In Indonesia
Diversity and Molecular Detection of Ralstonia solanacearum Race 2 Strains by Multiplex PCR
Bacterial Wilt Disease Complex of Banana in Indonesia
Bacterial Wilt of Heliconia in Pernambuco, Brazil – First Report and Detection by PCR in Soil and Rhizomes
Use of GPS and GIS Technologies to Map the Prevalence of Moko Disease of Banana in the Amazonas Region of Brazil

Diversity and Detection of R. solanacearum

Diversity and Diagnosis of Ralstonia solanacearum
How Complex is the “Ralstonia solanacearum Species Complex”?
Occurrence and Epidemic Adaptation of New Strains of Ralstonia solanacearum Associated with Zingiberaceae Plants Under Agro-Ecosystem in      Japan
Characterization and detection of Ralstonia solanacearum Strains Causing Bacterial Wilt of Ginger in Hawaii
Flow Cytometry to Detect Ralstonia solanacearum and to Assess Viability
Methods to Ensure the Detection by PCR of Ralstonia solanacearum in the Environment Using DNA Capture and a Commercial DNA Extraction Mini      Kit
Variability of the Potato Bacterial Wilt Pathogen, Ralstonia solanacearum (E. F. Smith) Yabuuchi et al, in the Philippines
Improved Detection of Ralstonia solanacearum in Culturable and VBNC State from Water Samples at Low Temperatures

Subject Index
Author Index
Color Plates

“…a well-produced book…contains a wealth of information on this major pathogen….especially useful to workers in some developing countries and in which Ralstonia has greatest impact….essential reading for anyone working with this disease.”
—Plant Pathology

"…fascinating insight into the biological workings of plant disease…a ‘must have’ for anyone working with R. solanacearum but will be useful for students, teachers, and researchers with an interest in other bacterial plant pathogens.”
—European Journal of Plant Pathology

"Information printed in this book is very important not only for plant pathologists, research workers but also for plant protection and quarantine services as well as potato growers.”
—Acta Physiologiae Plantarum

"This volume certainly provides a wealth of information on one of the most serious bacterial plant diseases with worldwide distribution and great economic impact. It can be recommended to everybody active in research on R. solancearum or concerned with the spread of bacterial wilt disease to his country…”
—Journal of Phytopathology