A Proposed Manual for the Efficient Management of Kiwifruit Bacterial Canker in Korea

Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae, the causal agent of bacterial canker, is currently causing severe economic losses to kiwifruit production worldwide. The pathogen has affected green-fleshed kiwifruit cutlivars and yellow-fleshed kiwifruit cultivars since 1988 and 2006 in Korea, respectively. In recent years, the biovar 3 strains of P. syringae pv. actinidiae were introduced through imported contaminated pollens and have rapidly spread to neighboring kiwiruit orchards by secondary infection, leading to outbreaks of bacterial canker and tremendous damages on yellow- and red-fleshed kiwifruit cultivars. In this review, we summarize the various management practices of bacterial canker of kiwifruit such as disease escaping, cultural practices, blocking of dissemination, early diagnosis, eradication of inoculum sources, chemical control, and trunk injection on the basis of our research works and field experiences and important research products conducted during the last three decades in the world. Finally, we propose a manual for the efficient management of the disease that can be practically utilized at the farmers’ orchards in order to keep kiwifruit vines healthy in the future.