Diseases on the rise in Louisiana vegetables

Irregular, water-soaked greasy, brown leaf spots on upper (right) and lower (left) leaf surfaces on bell pepper caused by bacterium Xanthomonas species. (Photo by Raj Singh/LSU AgCenter)
Vegetable growers all over Louisiana are facing Southern bacterial wilt and bacterial spot in tomatoes and pepper production. LSU AgCenter plant doctor Raj Singh said Southern bacterial wilt is caused by the soil-borne bacterium, Ralstonia solanacearum. “The pathogen is spread within fields by the movement of infested soil, in surface water and through the handling of infected plants,” he said…

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