Podridão do fruto, novo sintoma relacionado a Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. passilorae

Fruits of sweet passion fruit (Passiflora alata Ait) showing soft rot areas in the mesocarp were collected in a commercial field located at Valinhos county, state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Frequently a premature abscision of the imature fruits were noted, in spite of they didn’t present any alteration in the epidermis. Internally, water soaked areas, discoloration and. soft rot of the mesocarp with bark separation and formation of cavities were observed. Bacteria were consistently isolated from these symptoms. Biochemical, serological, cultural and pathogenicity tests characterized the pathogen as Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. passiflorae