WEEDS AS LATENT HOSTS OF RALSTONIA SOLANACEARUM IN HIGHLAND UGANDA: IMPLICATIONS FOR LOWLAND POTATO BACTERIAL WILT CONTROL.
Tusiime G1., Adipala E1., Opio F2., Bhagsari A. S3.
1
2 Namulonge Agricultural and Animal Production Research Institute P. O. Box 7084, Kampala, Uganda.
3 Fort Valley Agricultural College, Fort Valley, Georgia 31030, USA.
Occurence of Ralstonia solanacearum E. F. Smith latent infection in common highland Uganda weeds was investigated, using Kelman's media technique. Herbaceous weeds from both potato fields and plots under fallow were found latently infected. They were Ageratum conyzoides, Amaranthus spp., Bidens pilosa, Erigeron floribundus, Galinsoga parviflora, Leucas martinicensis, Oxalis latifolia, Polygonum napalense, Rummex abyssinicum, Spergula arvensis, Stellaria sennii, and Tagetes minuta. No bacteria were isolated from the two grass weeds that were investigated - Digitaria scalarum and Brachiaria brizantha. Herbaceous weeds probably play a significant role in the survival of R. solanacearum. Grasses (crops or pastures) could improve the efficiency of rotation as a bacterial wilt integrated control package component.
