DISEASE: Bacterial spot of pepper and tomato

PATHOGENS: Xanthomonas euvesicatoria and Xanthomonas perforans = [Xanthomonas axonopodis (syn. campestris) pv. vesicatoria], Xanthomonas vesicatoria, and Xanthomonas gardneri

Author
David F. Ritchie, North Carolina State University

Defoliation and reduced fruit yield from bacterial spot (background).
 (Courtesy D.F. Ritchie)

Bacterial spot is one of the most devastating diseases of pepper and tomato grown in warm, moist environments. Once present in the crop, it is almost impossible to control the disease and prevent major fruit loss when environmental conditions remain favorable. The study of this bacterial pathogen also has significantly enhanced the scientific understanding of host-pathogen interactions and the molecular basis of the gene-for-gene model.