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Bacterial Blight of Saintpaulia ionantha Caused by Erwinia chrysanthemi. J. F. Knauss, Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Agricultural Research Center, Apopka 32703; J. W. Miller, Plant Pathologist, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry, Gainesville 32602. Phytopathology 64:1046-1047. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-64-1046.

A severe blight of the crown, petioles, and leaves of Saintpaulia ionantha (African violet), was found to be caused by Erwinia chrysanthemi. The pathogen was isolated from diseased petioles and leaves. Inoculations of leaf cuttings with leaf and petiole isolates produced symptoms typical of the disease. Erwinia chrysanthemi was reisolated consistently from the inoculated cuttings.