Twenty four strains of Ralstonia solanacearum belonging to races 1, 2 and 3 of biovars I, II and III, isolated from various hosts were investigated for their ability to cause disease on Strelitzia seedlings through artificial inoculation. Results revealed that, with one exception, only strains isolated from plants of Musa or Heliconia (classified as race 2) caused wilt symptoms on Strelitzia, indicating their pathogenic potential to that plant species. Seedlings of Strelitzia could be used as test plants for presumptive diagnosis for banana Moko disease.
diagnosis; inoculation; moko; wilt symptoms
