Bacterial Vascular Necrosis and Root Rot Disease of Sugar Beet in Egypt

Five pectolytic bacteria were isolated from roots and petioles of sugar beet exhibiting soft rot and vascular necrosis symptoms that were collected from different fields in El-Minia Governorate, Egypt. Inoculation of the bacteria into sugar beet roots through wounded crowns or injured lateral roots reproduced soft rot and vascular necrosis symptoms. According to their biochemical and physiological characteristics, pathogenicity tests, fatty acid composition analysis, and electron microscopy, the bacteria were identified as Erwinia carotovora ssp. betavasculorum. This is the first report of the disease in Egypt.