A trusted and essential resource for over four decades, Laboratory Guide for Identification of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria returns in a fully updated fourth edition. This guide remains the most authoritative reference for plant pathologists, diagnosticians, and students who need to accurately identify bacterial plant pathogens using conventional and cutting-edge methods.

Each chapter is authored by leading experts and provides a holistic, comprehensive overview of the genus or genera, including characteristics useful for identification, isolation techniques, and molecular, serological, biochemical, and other assays for identifying phytobacteria. This updated edition provides simplified identification methods, detailed protocols, color photographs, and a list of semiselective agar media for bacterial isolation. Whether you are an experienced researcher or new to plant pathology, this guide offers the essential tools and knowledge to tackle today’s diagnostic challenges.

This comprehensive volume provides:

• Thorough coverage of more than 30 genera, including 11 not covered in previous editions, such as Dickeya, Lonsdalea, Robbsia, Rhizorhabdus, and Candidatus Liberibacter


• Step-by-step protocols for isolation, culturing, and pathogenicity testing of bacterial strains


• Detailed diagnostic approaches—including molecular, serological, biochemical, and real-time PCR assays—to assist in genus-and species-level identification


• Insightful context on evolving bacterial taxonomy, including the integration of whole genome sequencing and average nucleotide identity in modern species classification


• Two foundational chapters on bacterial taxonomy and initial identification of common genera

Laboratory Guide for Identification of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria, Fourth Edition is dedicated to Norman W. Schaad, the driving force behind the first two editions and lead editor of the third. Schaad was an excellent scientist with a passion for accurate identification of bacterial plant pathogens as well as a friend to many in the field.

Laboratory Guide for Identification of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria, Fourth Edition

Preface to the Fourth Edition

Contributing Authors

Part I: Introduction

Chapter 1: Taxonomy of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria

C. T. Bull, T. Coutinho, K. Bophela, I. Safni, S. Timilsina, and J. B. Jones

Chapter 2: Initial Identification of Common Bacterial Genera

A. Sharma, J. B. Jones, G. W. Sundin, and S. A. Miller

Part II: Gram-Negative Bacteria

Chapter 3: Acidovorax

M. Zhao and R. R. Walcot

Chapter 4: Agrobacterium and Related Genera

N. Kuzmanovic, E. Szegedi, A. Obradovic, and T. J. Burr

Chapter 5: Brenneria

T. A. Coutinho and C. L. Brady

Chapter 6: Burkholderia and Robbsia

J. H. Ham, A. Sharma, J. B. Jones, and W. Chun

Chapter 7: Dickeya and Musicola

A. O. Charkowski, J. R. Joshi, and M. Alaryan

Chapter 8: Erwinia

Q. Zeng, C. M. Vrisman, L. Triplett, S. A. Miller, and G. W. Sundin

Chapter 9: Lonsdalea

T. A. Coutinho and C. L. Brady

Chapter 10: Pantoea

R. D. Gitaitis, B. Dutta, and T. A. Coutinho

Chapter 11: Pectobacterium

A. O. Charkowski and M. Arif

Chapter 12: Pseudomonas

E. A. Newberry, C. E. Morris, C. T. Bull, J. Murillo, O. Berge, B. A. Vinatzer, J. B. Jones, and M. L. Paret

Chapter 13: Ralstonia

D. Norman, A. M. Bocsanczy, T. Lowe-Power, M. J. Stulberg, E. A. Newberry, and S. Dobhal

Chapter 14: Rhizorhapis, Sphingobium, Sphingopyxis, and Rhizorhabdus

A. H. C. van Bruggen and I. M. Francis

Chapter 15: Xanthomonas

S. Timilsina, A. Strayer-Scherer, G. V. Minsavage, M. A. Jacques, M. Fischer-Le Saux, O. Pruvost, C. T. Bull, S. A. Miller, and J. B. Jones

Chapter 16: Xylella

J. Chen, L. De La Fuente, and D. L. Hopkins

Chapter 17: Xylophilus and Herbaspirillum

Y. Petersen, J. B. Jones, A. Obradovic, and M. Lopez

Part III: Gram-Positive Bacteria

Chapter 18: Clavibacter

C. A. Ishimaru, S. A. Miller, and A. K. Vidaver

Chapter 19: Curtobacterium

R. M. Harveson, E. Osdaghi, and K. A. Nielsen

Chapter 20: Rhodococcus

E. A. Savory, J. H. Chang, and M. L. Putnam

Chapter 21: Leifsonia

M. P. Grisham and L. E. A. Camargo

Chapter 22: Streptomyces

D. R. D. Bignell and R. Loria

Chapter 23: Clostridium

B. M. Lund

Part IV: Fastidious Phloem-Limited Bacteria

Chapter 24: Candidatus Liberibacter

J. C. Chen

Chapter 25: Phytoplasma and Spiroplasma

Y. Zhao and R. E. Davis

Part V: Appendices

Appendix I: Molecular Techniques

Appendix II: Serological Techniques

Appendix III: Automated Techniques

Index