THE OCCURRENCE OF BACTERIAL RED STREAK OF SUGARCANE CAUSED BY PSEUDOMONAS-SYRINGAE PV SYRINGAE IN IRAN

A bacterial leaf streak disease characterized by reddish, narrow (1-2 mm wide) streaks of variable size, and occasionally with bleached cent ers, was found in sugarcane (Saccharum, interspecific hybrid) fields i n northern Iran. The incitant bacterium was identified as Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae (P.s. syringae). The disease is similar in aetio logy to the sugarcane 'red streak' disease reported recently from Japa n. Cultivar-dependent variations in symptoms were noted. Differences i n pathogenicity as well as in electrophoretic profile of cell proteins between strains of P.s. syringae causing red streak in sugarcane and those causing canker on stone fruit trees, were observed.