A major disease that affects guava is 'bacterial blight', caused by Erwinia psidii, which has been reported in Southeastern and Central Regions of Brazil where the major producing areas are located. Considering the lack of information on epidemiology and incidence levels of this disease, the objectives of this study were to confirm the presence and to verify the spread of the disease in Distrito Federal (DF); to determine optimal temperature for in vitro multiplication of E. psidii; to develop a simple and effective method for pathogenicity testing and to evaluate in vitro bacterial survival on different substrates. The disease was detected in 56% of producing orchards evaluated in DF, with a correlation of 81, 9% between presence of symptoms and positive laboratorial diagnosis. The best temperature range for E. psidii growth was from 24 to 33 ºC, and the best method for short term preservation (up to 120 days) was in water suspension. Inoculation of the pathogen on detached leaves or stems allowed symptom development in seven days and it was shown to be a quick and suitable method for testing isolate pathogenicity.
Psidium guajava; in vitro survival; pathogenicity test
