Absence of Ralstonia syzygii subsp. indonesiensis from Australia

Publication Date

Thu, 24 Feb 2022, 05:55

Last Updated

Feb. 24, 2022, 5:55 a.m.

Report Number

AUS-107/1

Country

Australia

Report Status

Final

Hosts

Tomato, potato, capsicum, clove

Pest Status (ISPM 8 - 2021)

• Absent: pest no longer present
• Absent: pest records invalid

Geographical Distribution

Australia

Summary

There is a single record of Ralstonia syzygii subsp. indonesiensis from Australia, that was made in 1979 from tomato in the Northern Territory. Several subsequent surveys for Ralstonia in that area were conducted in the 1990’s, however the bacterium was not found. Since that time the bacterium has not been detected again in Australia. Given that the bacterium causes an aggressive disease of several solanaceous plants widely grown in Australia such as potato and tomato, and has not been recorded since 1979 despite several targeted surveys, it is believed that, if the record was valid, the bacterium has died out naturally from Australia and is no longer present.

The single isolate of Ralstonia syzygii subsp. indonesiensis collected from Australia is named ACH0732, and has been used in scientific research around the world. It has been widely characterised as an aberrant strain with discordant phylogenetic positions based on different gene sequences and corresponding biovar classification. This casts doubt on the original identification of the isolate and suggests that the pest record should also be considered invalid.

Danger

Determination that the pest is not present

Report files

Website

Issue keywords

Pest status:Absent/Absence

Commodity keywords