Severe Erwinia ‐Caused Damage on Opuntia ficus‐indica in Italy

Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora. was consistently isolated from diseased tissues of prickly pear cactus ( Opuntia ficus‐indica ) in Sicily. The bacterium was identified on the basis of morphological, cultural, biochemical and physiological characters as well as on the basis of pathogenicity. Symptoms were observed on cladophylls and fruit: watersoaked spots became brown and coalesced; the external tissue became dry and frequently cracked; the internal tissue turned brown to almost black. The disease was first localized in a few plantations, then seriously spread to all the modern intensive cultivations of prickly pear cacti.