Halo Blight of Kudzu Vine Caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola in Korea

Kudzu vine(Pueraria montana var. lobata) is an invasive climbing woody vine that envelops trees and shrubs, pressing physically and shutting out sunlight, which needs to be controlled. Kudzu vine pathogens were surveyed as a way to seek its biocontrol agents in 2002. Occurrence of a bacterial halo blight disease of kudzu vine was observed at several localities in Korea including Euiwang and Suwon in Gyeonggi Province, Daejon, and Gochang and Buan in Jeonbuk Province. Symptoms of brown to black spots with a surrounding yellowish halo appeared from June and lasted till the rainy season without much expansion, but accompanying often leaf blight and defoliation. Isolated bacteria were identified as Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola based on physiological and cultural characteristics, Biolog, fatty acid and 16S rDNA sequencing analyses. In artificial inoculation test, these bacteria produced the same halo spot symptoms on kudzu vine and bean plants. They also induced hypersensitive responses (HR) on tobacco, tomato, and chili pepper leaves. This is the first report of a bacterial disease of kudzu vine in Korea, and the bacterial pathogen can be used as a biocontrol agent against the pest plant.