Diagnosis and Control of Plant Bacterial Diseases

Dear Colleagues,

Plant pathogenic bacteria represent a major constraint to food production; leading, in some cases, to the local disapearance of the most susceptible cultivars. The economic importance of these pathogens is due to several factors, including the ability of many of them to multiply to very high numbers, constituting an extensive inconspicuous inoculum, leading to sudden large and economically important outbreaks as soon as the conditions for infection are met. This is compounded by the fact that there are only a very limited number of products available for their control. 

Rapid and accurate methods of detection and identification would allow for preventing and/or to better control such outbreaks. A number of molecular tools (e.g., multiplex PCR or LAMP assays) have recently been developed for the identification of several plant pathogenic bacteria. However, not all of those tools might be sensitive or specific enough for the early accurate detection of a disease. In addition, data to support sampling methods before symptoms are present are missing most of the time.

Most of the commercial products available for the control of bacterial diseases are either antibiotic-type products or heavy metals; they involve the risk of selecting pathogens resistant to these products. For some bacterial diseases, a few biological control agents or elicitors are also available, but their appropriate use requires an understanding of plant physiology and epidemiology, which is not always available. Novel methods of control, such as quorum sensing interference and the disruption of biofilm formation, have yet to be widely studied.

This Special Issue is open to manuscripts addressing all aspects of diagnostic and control methods for plant pathogenic bacteria presented above, including molecular and non-molecular detection and identification methods (e.g., selective media, PCR, and LAMP assays) and disease control methods, including chemical control, biological control, use of elicitors, and integrated management programmes that target alternative hosts and vectors.

Dr. Joel L. Vanneste
Guest Editor

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