Soilborne Bacterial Diseases of Crops

Crop diseases caused by bacteria that live in the soil and enter plants through the roots or through wounds near the soil line, producing wilts and tumor-like galls. A disease belongs here when its cited article names a soil-dwelling bacterium such as Ralstonia or Agrobacterium as the cause and describes infection from the soil. Once a field is infested the bacteria can persist for years in soil, water and plant debris, which makes rotation, clean nursery stock, careful handling that avoids wounding roots, and soil and water sanitation the main defences. Resistant rootstocks and varieties help where they exist. This heading gathers the soilborne bacterial diseases of the atlas so a visitor can compare their hosts and how they are managed.