Abstract
Fruit rot of a local variety of okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench], Shiro Okura, has been observed in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan since 2008. The causal bacterium was identified as Pseudomonas cichorii, a pathogen causing okra bacterial leaf blight, according to its phenotypic characteristics and 16S rDNA-based phylogenetic analysis. When Shiro Okura fruits were inoculated with the isolates, the fruit rot was reproduced, and the bacterium was reisolated from the plants. To our knowledge, this is the first report of fruit rot of okra caused by P. cichorii. We propose adding fruit rot as a new symptom of okra bacterial leaf blight.
