Does the aerial stem rot bacterium cause blackleg?

Aerial stem rot is caused by the same bacterium that causes tuber soft rot, Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. Carotovorum, writes Dr Eugenia Banks, potato specialist at the Ontario Potato Board in Canada in the latest issue of her regular email newsletter, issued yesterday. She provides a few essential pointers to growers regarding the bacterium – in response to a question she received from a potato grower in Ontario.

Dr Banks writes: