Geographical Distribution of Biovars of Ralstonia solanacearum in Brazil

Fifty-seven bacterial wilt pathogens were isolated from infected tomato, eggplant, potato, cucumber, pepper, banana, Solanum gilo and eucalyptus plants collected at different regions in Brazil. They were identified as Ralstonia solanacearum by the routine identification tests and the TLC method. The isolates were divided into seven groups on the basis of pathogenicity tests to tomato, eggplant, potato and tobacco. Moreover, based on the results of cultural, physiological and biochemical tests, twenty-four isolates were grouped as biovar 1, seventeen as biovar 2 and sixteen as biovar 3. Biovar 1 isolates are common and widely distributed in Brazil. Biovar 2 isolates are predominant on potato and prevail in the central west, south-east and south areas. Biovar 3 isolates exist mainly in the northern and north-eastern parts of Brazil.