PEPPER (CAPSICUM-ANNUUM) SOFT-ROT CAUSED BY ERWINIA-CAROTOVORA SUBSP ATROSEPTICA

Erwinia carotovora subsp. atroseptica caused soft rot of pepper (Capsi cum annuum) fruit in field plots at Beltsville, MD, in 1994. The patho gen was identified as E. carotovora subsp. atroseptica based on carboh ydrate utilization and fatty acid profiles. This is the first report o f a bacterial fruit rot of pepper caused by E. carotovora subsp, atros eptica. inoculation techniques were evaluated for reliable induction o f pepper soft rot. Inoculation of puncture wounds provided more consis tent lesion development than inoculation of Carborundum-induced abrasi on wounds or nonwounded tissue. Significant differences in susceptibil ity of puncture-inoculated pepper genotypes to E. carotovora subsp. at roseptica-induced soft rots were noted. Virulence of E. carotovora sub sp. atroseptica, E. carotovora subsp, carotovora, and E. chrysanthemi were compared at warm (23 degrees C) and cool (10 degrees C) temperatu res. E. carotovora subsp. carotovora and E. chrysanthemi caused the gr eatest soft rot decay of pepper fruit at 23 degrees C. At 10 degrees C , fruits inoculated with E. carotovora subsp. atroseptica were the mos t severely affected, suggesting that E. carotovora subsp. atroseptica has the potential to cause significant postharvest decay losses during cool storage conditions.