Clavibacter michiganensis

Clavibacter michiganensis is a Gram-positive, rod-shaped, aerobic bacterium from the Micrococcaceae family. It is a plant pathogen that causes bacterial wilt and canker in tomato plants, and is also known to infect other economically important crops.

Taxonomy

The bacterium belongs to the genus Clavibacter, which is part of the family Micrococcaceae. The species name michiganensis refers to the state of Michigan, where the bacterium was first identified.

Morphology

Clavibacter michiganensis is a Gram-positive bacterium, meaning it retains the violet stain used in the Gram stain procedure. It is rod-shaped, and is typically arranged in pairs or chains. The bacterium is also aerobic, requiring oxygen for growth.

Pathogenicity

Clavibacter michiganensis is a plant pathogen, causing diseases in a variety of crops. The most well-known disease caused by this bacterium is bacterial wilt and canker in tomato plants. The bacterium enters the plant through wounds or natural openings, and then spreads through the xylem, causing wilting and canker symptoms.

Other crops that can be infected by Clavibacter michiganensis include potato, pepper, and eggplant. In these plants, the bacterium can cause similar wilt and canker symptoms.

Management

Management of Clavibacter michiganensis involves a combination of cultural practices, chemical treatments, and resistant varieties. Cultural practices include crop rotation and sanitation measures to reduce the presence of the bacterium in the field. Chemical treatments, such as the use of copper-based fungicides, can also be effective. Finally, the use of resistant varieties can help to reduce the impact of the disease.

See also

• Bacterial wilt
• Plant pathology
• Tomato diseases