LEAF NECROSIS AND TWIG DIEBACK OF SWEET PERSIMMON (DYOSPIROS-KAKI L.)CAUSED BY PSEUDOMONAS-SYRINGAE PV. SYRINGAE IN ITALY

In spring 1996, extensive leaf necrosis and twig dieback were observed on young sweet persimmon (Dyospiros kaki L.) trees, cultivars O'Gosho , Hachija, Mercatelli and Kaki-tipo planted in the Abruzzo region (cen tral Italy). Many trees were killed. When the dieback reached the trun k, in many cases, new vegetation was noticed above the graft point. Th e cultivar Jiro-C was not affected by the disease. During 1997, no sym ptoms were observed on any plant. The orchard was planted in a clay so il with a very low content of organic matter. Biochemical, nutritional and pathogenicity tests indicated Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae v an Hall as the causal agent of the disease. This is the first report o f this bacterium as a pathogen of sweet persimmon in Europe.