Bacterial canker of naranjilla or lulo (Solanum quitoense and Solanum pectinatum) is a new disease that could completely destroy naranjilla plants. The objectives of this study were to identify and characterize bacteria associated with canker wilt of naranjilla, and to determine the importance of wounds in the dissemination and transmission of bacterial canker.Symptoms of this disorder consist of dieback and leaves showing incurvature which was diagnostic to confirm bacterial wilt. Collapse of leaf panel on Nicotiana tabacum confirmed that the bacterium is phytopathogenic. This bacterium showed positive serological tests for Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis, positive Gram reaction, growth on NCP 88, (ELISA+ GRAM+ NCP 88 +) as well as re-isolation through Koch postulates in Solanum cheesmanii. Aerial wounds appear to be the most important means for dissemination. More research is needed about the molecular characterization of the bacterium, and potential for the bacterium to be transmitted to other solanaceous crops.
Keywords: emerging infectious crop diseases, Solanum quitoense, Solanum pectinatum, Solanum cheesmanii, Solanum hirsutu
