Identification and Aggressiveness of Erwinia carotovora subsp. betavasculorum on Sugar Beet from Texas. E. D. Whitney, Research Plant Pathologist, USDA, ARS, 1636 East Alisal, Salinas, CA 93905. Plant Dis. 71:602-603. Accepted for publication 22 January 1987. This article is in the public domain and not copyrightable. It may be freely reprinted with customary crediting of the source. The American Phytopathological Society, 1987. DOI: 10.1094/PD-71-0602.

Erwinia carotovora subsp. betavasculorum was positively identified from cultivar HH 23 from the Hereford, TX, area by a microprecipitin test, growth on Miller-Schroth selective medium, and a pathogenicity test on a susceptible cultivar. The aggressiveness of strains varied from mild to moderately severe; however, none of the Texas strains was more aggressive than a California isolate and no resistance-breaking biotypes were detected. Known sources of resistance should provide disease control.