Bacillus pumilus, the Cause of Bacterial Blotch of Immature Balady Peach in Egypt

Five pectolytic isolates of Bacillus were isolated from bacterial blotch of immature fruits and leaves of Balady peach (Prunus persica cv. Balady) grown in El-Minia Govemorate in Egypt. Inoculation of the isolated bacteria into premature peach fruits and leaves resulted in the development of large brown spots. The isolated bacterium was identified as Bacilluspumilus from its physiological and biochemical properties, pathogenicity, electron microscopy and fatty acid composition analysis. B. pumilus also induced soft rot on wounded American stotie and pome fruits such as Atittimn Large and Southern peach. Large Red plums. Golden Delicious and Gala apple and Bartlet pear. Unwounded Autumn Large peach and Bartlet pear were also affected. Moreover, they degraded the parenchymatous tissues of many tested plant organs under experimental cotiditions. B. pumilus produced endopolygalacturonase (EC A.l.l.X) and endopectin lyase (EC4.2.2.3) in vitro and in vivo. This is the first report of the disease occurring in Egypt.