Bacterial threats to blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) production: A synthesis of pathogen diversity, epidemiology and control strategies
Abstract
Bacterial diseases are increasingly constraining blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) production as cultivation expands into new regions and intensifies under greater climatic variability. This review synthesizes the major bacterial pathogens reported on blueberry (Xylella fastidiosa, the Ralstonia solanacearum species complex, tumorigenic Agrobacterium/Rhizobium lineages, Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae, and Xanthomonas arboricola) and integrates evidence on taxonomy, symptomatology, epidemiology, diagnostics, and management. By coordinating reports from different continents and various production contexts, we created risk profiles for specific pathogens. These profiles were influenced by factors such as population diversity, host range, and the timing and duration of latent infections. Additionally, they were intensified by triggers like cold injury, prolonged leaf wetness or high humidity, and the source and handling of irrigation water. Two cross-cutting gaps limit risk forecasting and decision-making: (i) yield/quality losses and economic impacts are rarely quantified using comparable metrics, reflecting incomplete knowledge of key epidemiological parameters and virulence determinants; and (ii) field-validated rapid diagnostics and standardized, epidemiology-informed integrated disease management programs remain insufficient, particularly for detecting latent infections in nursery stock. We therefore prioritized prevention-centered, integrated disease management built on…
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